Another Life by a_silver_story | Part 07
Title: Another Life
Chapter: 07 | ??
Characters: Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones
Author: a_silver_story
Genre Alternate Universe, Romance
Rating: NC-17 just to be safe.
Warnings: A bit of angst, and some tentacles and d/c in the future.
Disclaimer: If I owned anything in this, I'd be a rich rich rich bitch. However, I am not a rich rich rich bitch so you may all, therefore, assume I own nothing. Which I don't. It all belongs RTD and the BBC, in case any of you didn't know.
Summary: Ianto finds himself heartbroken and alone, but eventually learns that no matter what point in Captain Jack Harkness' life he finds himself, they will always fall in love.
Torchwood Index/Masterlist
First Part
Another Life
AL VI
The security doors at the top of the steps opened for him, and the Captain hurried down them into the damp, stone-walled cavity that was the basement. He stopped just behind the second door, leading to the main basement room.
He could hear crying.
Taking a deep breath, he touched the door handle and waited for the deadlocks to slide back to his touch, and pushed open the door.
The tears weren’t Ianto's ...
Ianto wandered down the stairs towards the basement, whistling. He rarely whistled, but he figured no one who caught him whistling now would know that, so he could be as loud and as jubilant as he wanted. He pushed open the security door, nodding to some of the fish swimming in a nearby tank, and began the descent to the lowest level of the building.
At the bottom of the stairs, he found a door right in front of him. Taking out his blueprints, he checked his location, and figured that he was stood in front of the main storage room in the basement. That’s no good ... he thought to himself, standing on his tiptoes to try and see through the murky, high-set window to glimpse what was inside.
Figuring that since it was the main room used for storage, they’d probably have to convert part of it and make it smaller so that the lifts would all join up - that was, after all, ideal. Pulling out the pen light he’d stolen borrowed from Jack’s desk, he examined his blueprints again, then nearly kicked himself.
In his head, he hadn’t compensated for the direction he was facing changing when he got to the u-turn in the stairs. The lifts would need to go behind him and to the right, and he could easily see there was plenty of room with a sturdy enough wall surrounding the space for it to be knocked back and a large column of machinery be put in. He paused, suddenly aware he could hear the sound of soft crying somewhere in the underground basement.
He, turned, straining his ears, and was certain there was someone weeping. Moving slightly, he could hear that the sound came from the main storage room. Biting his lip, he decided that if someone had come deep underground to vent, they probably wanted to be left alone. He knew he would. Decidedly ignoring it for now, he returned to inspecting the wall, and measuring height and length to ensure all the lift capsules would fit. He paused again when he heard footsteps beating down the stairs.
The closer the feet came, the louder the tears in the main room grew. Frowning, Ianto wondered if the distressed person was hiding, and could now hear ... whoever they were hiding from ... was coming. Slinking back into the shadows, Ianto waited until a shadowy figure appeared at the bottom of the stairs, looking around. He instantly recognised it was Jack, and was about to call him when the Captain reached out and touched the door. Deadlocks slid back, and tentatively, he entered the main room.
“Hey ...” he heard him say, sounding relieved. “... hey ... it’s okay ... c’mon now ...”
The door swung shut, so Ianto decided to leave the Captain with the mournful sounds coming from the basement - it sounded like it was someone the Captain knew, and had possibly been asked to go down there in an attempt to calm them down.
Satisfied he was getting his lifts, Ianto climbed back up the stairs onto the first floor and checked his watch. He was feeling a little hungry, so wandered towards the market. He figured he could get something to eat, and then see if his suit was ready. He could also get some things for the picnic tomorrow, when he would introduce Giacomo and Rhys to Till.
It took him almost no time to re-find Mr. Turnbull’s shop, and on the way he found a stand that sold some rather exquisite ties. Ianto had only one - and it wouldn’t go with the suit he had ordered. Mindful of the time he agreed to only quickly try on his new clothes, and hurriedly threw all the layers on.
“You’re a genius!” beamed Ianto, admiring the onyx-black shirt, the waistcoat with its even lapels, and the perfect cut of the jacket. He ran his new jet-black tie through his fingers, two acid green stripes diagonally painted just under the knot. Black and green - why had he never tried this combination before?
Taking it off and folding it neatly, he thanked Mr. Turnbull and left him another tip. Making his way back towards Jack’s office, Ianto began to climb the Bastard Stairs, thinking about how sure he was that Jack would let him store some of the food he bought that day in his fridge until he could take it home later, and maybe even put the suit on to see what the Captain’s reaction would be.
The stairs were quiet that time of day, and that was probably why he could hear them.
Two girls, sat in an alcove down the hall from the stairs. They couldn’t see him, and he couldn’t see them, but he could hear them clearly.
“... think it’s wonderful ...”
“Probably. I heard the Captain spent the night there, even though he’s got Blue-Eyes ready and waiting in his bed at home.”
“So?”
“Blue-Eyes is from a time when fidelity had a different meaning - I mean, kissing someone else was like ... the end of the world ...”
“Seriously? You think Blue-Eyes would dump him?”
The two girls started laughing. “Imagine that!” giggled the other one. “The Captain being dumped by a time refugee with crooked teeth and a funny accent!”
“Aww I think he’s cute! If the Captain don’t want him, I’ll have ‘im! And if the Captain does stick with him, he’d probably just turn him into another Gail anyway.”
“Gail?”
“Ohh! I forgot - you weren’t here then. The Captain’s woman before. She died under the bandstand a few days ago - that kid was the Captain’s, though he’d never admit it.”
“No! She was the Captain’s?”
“How do you think she got that flat? And no sooner is she gone, than his new favourite is in her place.”
“I thought he got a bit emotional when he was out there with the rubble!”
“’Emotional’?”
“Yeah - short tempered, spontaneously crying, not talking to anyone. He worked until his hands were cut and bleeding, and even then he didn’t stop. Most of the blood people saw in the carts of rubble was his.”
“You think he might’ve ... y’know ... ‘cleared the way’ for the Blue-Eyed Boy?”
“KAZ!”
“What? I’m not the only one thinking it!”
“You are on this corridor!”
“Am not! Where was he when the bandstand went down? He won’t say!”
“He was in his office! My partner was one of the first up there when the sirens went off! When they figured out who was under there, it was my partner that comforted him when he broke down!”
“I heard he got to the bandstand alone, and within moments of it happening.”
“Well I know he was in his office!”
Ianto delicately cleared his throat, and the two women shrank back when they saw he was there.
“Interesting conversation you’re having.” he commented jovially. “Now, I’m sure I can quite easily forget your wild and ridiculous accusations about the Captain and the bandstand - if you tell me where he apparently ‘spent the night’.” he offered.
The women gave each other shifty looks. “Erm ...” Ianto recognised her voice as being the one that had defended Jack. “His name is Theo. He lives in four-one-nine.”
“Thank you. Good day, ladies.”
Ianto turned on his heel and carried on up the stairs, his head swimming. Jack had been with someone else? He promised he wouldn’t ...
He arrived at Jack’s office, hardly noticing how out of breath he was as he pushed open the door (usually, he waited until he got his breath back before entering the office for appearance’s sake). The Captain wasn’t back yet, and that just annoyed Ianto further. He thought of the tears in the basement, and wondered if maybe the distressed sounds were coming from ‘Theo’, and Ianto had walked away from catching them.
Putting his chilled foods into the fridge in Jack’s kitchenette, then making himself some coffee, Ianto found he couldn’t stop fidgeting. He began pacing the length of the kitchenette, out through Jack’s office and then back to the other side of the kitchen.
“Where have you been?” Ianto asked the instant Jack entered the office.
“Erm ... out?” offered the Captain with a frown.
“Out where?”
“I went for a walk.” shrugged Jack. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked, walking past him, taking his hand as he went and tugging him towards the spiral stairs that lead to the Captain’s house.
“Nothing.” Ianto lied, allowing himself to be guided down and into the bedroom. Jack pulled him under the covers, hardly giving him chance to take his shoes and socks off first. They began kissing languidly, before speeding up as Ianto guided the Captain onto his back, straddling him, kissing and biting his neck while palming his erection.
Jack moaned and scratched his shoulders, arching his back as Ianto began to unbutton his shirt and move lower, pulling his trousers open. He paused with his tongue mid-swirl over the head of Jack’s cock, and the Captain groaned in frustration.
“Do you have any restraints?” Ianto asked, smirking the little wicked smirk that made Jack’s cock get even harder. Scrambling a little, he pulled a thin wire out of his pocket, and as Ianto watched him squeeze an end between his fingers, the metal expanded until there was a pair of handcuffs being held out to him. He took them with another smirk, and bound the Captain’s wrists above his head to the headboard.
Ianto began teasing him again, listening to him moan and gasp, waiting until he was desperate and keening before pulling back completely, sitting back on his heels. Jack glared at him, shaking the restraints, growling in frustration.
“I have a couple of questions.” Ianto told him calmly.
“What?” gasped Jack.
“I have a couple of questions.” Ianto repeated. “Firstly: who is Theo?”
“Theo?”
“He lives in four-one-nine, apparently.”
“Good for him. Ianto ...!” Jack begged.
Ianto was satisfied with that answer. “Secondly,” he continued. “Have you slept with anyone else since you took me as your lover?”
“It hasn’t been three days!” gasped Jack. “Please, Ianto!”
The Captain squirmed as Ianto squeezed his erection, sighing in pleasure as tongue swirled around the head and fingers curled around the length. Again, Ianto pulled away at the very last moment.
“Thirdly:”
“IANTO!”
“Thirdly: how many children here are yours?”
Jack stared at him, and Ianto stared back. Eventually, Jack broke the silence, glancing away and biting his lip.
“Three.” he admitted quietly. “Three of them are mine.”
Ianto nodded silently, and reached out, taking Jack’s cock again, leaning forward and taking him all the way in. He listened as Jack cried out, the handcuffs rattling against the headboard. He came hard, straight down Ianto's throat and he didn’t even get to taste it. Crawling up Jack’s body, Ianto kissed him gently, holding him tight.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Ianto asked gently.
“They don’t know.” Jack replied, his arms limp where the restraints held him.
“Their names?”
“Jacqueline, Jacob and ... and Giacomo.”
Ianto sat up again, and Jack couldn’t look at him.
“Your son? I’m supposed to be raising your son?”
“That’s just how it happened.” Jack assured him.
“His mother killed herself ...”
“No - his mother died in childbirth. The woman that killed herself was not his biological mother.”
“You didn’t consider raising any of your children yourself?”
Jack stared at him. “Look at me.” he eventually sighed. “Look at me: am I a good father? Would I make a good role model? And ... you know ... you know how ... I can’t die ....”
“If you didn’t want to face the consequences, you should have been more careful!” Ianto snapped, reaching out to unfasten the handcuffs. Jack rubbed his wrists where the restraints had cut in slightly, unable to make eye contact with Ianto. Ianto bit his lip and took a deep breath. “You would be a good father.” he assured him.
Jack shook his head. “You’ve no idea.”
“Just ... you could at least let them know.”
“No.” Jack muttered hoarsely.
“Jac -”
“This isn’t any of your business, Ianto.” the Captain warned.
“I just want what’s best ...”
“Leave things how they are. Please.”
Ianto searched his face, and decided to concede. This was Jack’s life - he pointedly decided to ignore the fact there were three other lives involved as well - and it was right, for now, to leave it. With a heavy heart he sat, leaning back against the headboard, next to the Captain. Glancing over at him, Ianto could see he was tentative and unsure as to whether he and Ianto were still on easy terms, biting his lip and curling his fingers into the duvet. Ianto smiled to himself, putting a hand on Jack’s shoulder, holding his arms open in offering. The Captain looked ... relieved? ... and leant sideways until he practically fell across Ianto's lap, an arm snaked around his back.
Ianto stroked his hair as they sat in silence for a while. He tensed when Jack suddenly jumped, sitting up straight, but relaxed with a smile when he told him what he’d thought of.
“I just remembered who ‘Theo’ is!” he grinned.
“Who?”
“Blond highlights, curtain cut. Tried coming onto me yesterday and I knocked him back.”
“You sure?”
“Yep.”
“Okay - looks like I’m going to have to go round to his and tell him to stop spreading rumours.”
“Rumours?”
“Heard a couple of gossips on my way up the stairs.” shrugged Ianto. “Decided to use the only one-hundred-per-cent-success-rated method to get the truth.”
Jack gave a small laugh, though it sounded rather forced and disgruntled. Ianto smiled to himself, shifting until he was lying beside Jack. “You have a favour to return ...” he smirked softly. Jack arched an eyebrow, smiling back with a wicked edge.
“Do I get to tie you up?”
“Hmmm ... maybe ...”
They moved closer together, lips touching softly, kissing gently as Ianto waited for Jack to take the lead. He pulled back when he realised he wasn’t going to.
“What’s wrong?” Jack asked.
“Aren’t you gonna ... move things along a bit?”
“I thought you were going to.”
“You’re tying me up, remember?”
“Ah yeah ...” smiled Jack, and moved forward, kissing him again, this time pushing him onto his back and straddling his hips. He made quick work of unfastening his shirt, and flipped him onto his stomach with a harsh tug as he pulled a sleeve off.
“Ha! Nice trick!” laughed Ianto, before moaning softly as Jack’s lips found his neck as he lay on his front, the Captain’s body covering his. He felt the cold metal slip around one of his wrists, and jumped when he realised Jack was guiding it behind his back to be bound with the other one. “No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no ....” he gasped, trying not to panic.
“What? Have I done something wrong?”
“I just ... don’t ... I want ... I need to see my hands.”
Jack seemed to understand immediately. “Let’s ... forego the cuffs for now.” he suggested. “Maybe talk about it a bit more another time, yeah?”
Ianto turned onto his back and nodded.
“Woahh ...” Jack breathed, taking in the wild look in his eyes and the blood seeping from where he’d bit his lip too hard. “It’s okay, Ianto. You’re with me, you’re safe. Look - it’s not even on your wrist anymore ...”
“Sorry.” sniffed Ianto.
“I’m sorrier.” Jack leant down and kissed him, tasting the iron in his blood and then flopping down to lie beside him, silently acknowledging Ianto probably didn’t want to have sex right now.
“Thanks.” muttered Ianto, fastening up his shirt hurriedly.
“Oo! I got you a present!” Jack beamed before Ianto could run off.
Ianto flushed crimson. “You ... got me a present? Really?”
“Yep. Look.”
Jack disappeared, rooting under the bed. He eventually pulled out a rectangular wooden box with sides ridged like chocolate fingers lying together, and elegant birds carved into the top. Ianto took it from him, and gave it a gentle shake. He heard something rattle inside. “What is it?” he asked.
“That’s for you to find out.” smiled Jack. “It’s a puzzle box, and inside is your prize.”
“What’s my prize?”
Jack laughed. “Not telling.”
Ianto tried to force the box open, but it refused to give. “Start me off.” he demanded, thrusting the box at the Captain. He simply held his hands up, palms out, and shook his head playfully.
“You have to do it yourself.”
Ianto sighed, and looked down at the box. “Fine.” he grumbled. “But my prize better be good!”
~*~*~*~
“So,” the Captain addressed the hall, filled with every single person in the School who could be spared. Those who weren't there would probably find out from people who had attended. There were thousands there, all seated quietly in the enormous seating banks. "from now on, the weekend trips will be annually every other Saturday and Sunday. They will be overviewed by Ianto Jones, but trips will only be provided on suggestion. Send him a letter telling him where you want to go, and he'll get back to you as to whether or not it's do-able. Check the noticeboard for available activities, and everything has to be booked at least two days before. This is an excellent chance for you to get out there and see the world, and learn first-hand how it functions with its social climate."
There was muttering around the hall, buzzing with excitement. After a couple more items to cover, Jack came down from the stage where Ianto was waiting for him with a glass of water. He sipped it gratefully.
"You were right." smiled the Captain. "They love the idea of going out."
"I think it's what they need." nodded Ianto, as a small woman with mousy hair came towards them, followed by a gaggle of people. She took the Captain's hand firmly and shook it, grinning.
"Always wanted to see what was out there - can't wait! Just can't wait! Shopping! Cinema! It'll be wonderful!"
The people around were echoing her sentiment, thanking the rather surprised Captain and all shaking or kissing his hand. "Oh ... it ... it wasn't my ...." he glanced over at Ianto, who gave him a slight smile and nod. "Well ..." Jack cleared his throat. Ianto would let him have this one. "... well, it just makes sense, if you think about it. You're supposed to be adapting to this world - what's the use of you never going there?"
They all nodded, and several more people were waiting in the crowd to thank the Captain - just for letting them go outside the boundaries. Ianto sighed and stepped back, busying himself with finding something to do.
"You're letting him take the credit." a voice stated near him, bluntly. Ianto turned, and saw Vegas leaning by an empty table.
"Yep." Ianto agreed.
"Why?"
"Because how they see him is more important than how they see me."
"That could be you though, being adored by all those people. Just for saying 'hey - why not let them outside!'."
"It could be, but it's not. And I hate being the centre of attention, so it all works out, really."
"You know he's been sleeping with someone else?"
"I heard that rumour, too." smiled Ianto, folding his arms.
"Theo had him the night before last." Vegas smirked.
"Did he?"
Ianto nearly laughed with relief.
"Night before last ... night before last ... where was I, night before last? Ahhh yes - in bed with the Captain. That was it!"
Vegas' expression turned stony.
Ianto sighed. "Please, Vegas. Stop it. No one finds this endearing, and you're just making yourself look like a tit in the breeze."
He glared at Ianto, and Ianto threw his hands up, turning away and leaving him to stew.
It was nearly half an hour before Jack could shake off the crowd around him, and he was pretty much exhausted when he was allowed to get away from them. Ianto gave him another glass of water, and they smiled at each other.
"Thanks for ..."
"Don't mention it."
Jack nodded, but Ianto knew he appreciated it. He was taken by surprise when the Captain kissed him, but soon forgot everything as he kissed him back. They were disturbed by the clearing of a throat near them, and Ianto pulled away and turned a little pink when he saw Rhys and Giacomo stood nearby.
"Your tea should be out at six," Rhys grinned. "and Jack's done you a drawing ..."
Ianto crouched down and took a sheet of paper covered in coloured scribbles from Giacomo. He studied it carefully. "Is it ... me?" he ventured to ask. Giacomo nodded.
"That's you ... and that's Rhys ... and that's our telly ... and that's a dog."
"I could tell." Ianto lied, and Giacomo's face lit up. "You're very good at drawing. We'll have to put this up on the fridge at home."
"I drawed it so you could put it in your office." explained Giacomo, hiding behind Rhys' leg a little.
"Oh!" grinned Ianto. "I wanted to put it in my office, but I thought you might want to be able to see it. This is lovely, Jack. I'll put it on the wall opposite my desk so I can look up and always see it."
Giacomo smiled wider, and reached out to hug him. Awkwardly, Ianto hugged him back, not expecting the contact and breaking it probably a little sooner than Giacomo expected.
"I'll see you later." Ianto told them, and they both bade him goodbye. He turned back, expecting to find the Captain, only to find empty air where he had once inhabited. Ianto looked around, and spotted him chatting to an elderly man in the futuristic monks' robes the teachers seemed to wear. He wandered over, folding up Giacomo's drawing and putting it in his pocket.
The Captain caught his eye, and Ianto sensed the pleading in them. He hurried a little, and touched Jack's arm. "Captain - I need to speak to you. It's urgent."
"What is it?" he asked, turning and showing the professor his priorities for conversation had changed.
"It's ... to do with the repairs, sir?"
"Repairs?" repeated Jack, pretending he had no idea and urging Ianto to get himself into a lie.
"Yes ... the ... repairs."
"What repairs?"
"To ... your bed, sir. I believe on your Maintenance Request forms you labelled it as 'damage through inappropriate use'?" he deadpanned, remembering his Jack's own claims forms.
The professor sniggered. "I'll be off then, Captain."
He excused himself and exited the large auditorium.
"'Damage through inappropriate use'?" Jack raised an eyebrow.
Ianto smirked. "I could have said 'incident with a giant stapler'. That was another favourite."
Jack laughed, and put his arm around Ianto's waist as he leaned in to kiss his cheek. He kept it there as he began to guide Ianto towards the exit.
"You sure you can handle organising these trips, the files in my office, the list of things that need to be added or changed and refurbished, accounts, my schedule and keeping your family happy?"
"I'm sure I'll manage." Ianto smiled. "Really, I can do this."
"It's not too much?"
"If it becomes too much, I'll get an assistant."
"Oooo ... threesome ..." smirked Jack.
Ianto rolled his eyes and they fell into step as they began to make their way upstairs.
"Are you going to stay at the flat tonight?" Jack asked him as they neared the top.
"I'll sleep at yours, if that's what you want."
"Yeah."
"Well ... anyway ... back to work!"
Ianto nodded, leaving him at his office door and going further down the corridor to where the records were kept. Were it not for his little trip to the market or the conference this afternoon, Ianto would have had everything in order by now. He sighed heavily, bypassing the Records Office, and carrying on until he got to the room at the end of the hall signposted as 'Accounts'. He pushed open the door and the light flicked on.
It was an office, spacious, and contained nothing more than a desk and chair. This time the day before, it had been a total mess. Someone had been in since, cleaning away the thick layer of dust, fetching a new chair and fixing the drawer. The scattered paper that had been dumped there was gone, replaced by files of neat documents waiting to be sorted, and there was a memo saying that new filing cabinets were going to be delivered for the room, as well as a computer and another chair.
Ianto liked to think that Jack was behind it all, if not physically involved.
Smiling to himself, he retrieved a thumb tack from the disused cork board by the window, and used it to pin Giacomo's drawing to the wall by the door, opposite his desk. He sat down in his large, cosy chair and grinned up at it. For some reason, it made him feel warm inside. Sitting back, he sighed and massaged his temples.
Giacomo was Jack's son. His baby.
Ianto gave a small laugh to the empty room, remembering the name of the Captain's children. Jacqueline, Jacob and Giacomo. All containing a variation of 'Jack', the vain bastard. Or maybe that was just so that he could remember which ones were his ....
Shaking the thought from his mind, Ianto checked his watch. Five 'o' clock.
Opening the drawer beside him, he pulled out the puzzle box Jack had given him earlier. Right, he thought. That gives me an hour to get you the Hell open ...
He commenced the struggle.
I was just talking to my cousin, who I haven't seen since Easter.
The only Torchwood she's seen is Day One, Day Two and half of Day Three (cuz she got bored).
The worst thing is ... she didn't know Jack and Ianto were together. She was actually confused that Jack kissed him, shrugged her shoulders and went "well ... I just thought ... y'know ... it's Jack ... he was about to die, and Ianto has a pulse ..."
Now excuse me while I go and educate her with Series 1 and 2.
Next Part | Previous Part | Torchwood Index | Request a Convo/Prose Fic
Chapter: 07 | ??
Characters: Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones
Author: a_silver_story
Genre Alternate Universe, Romance
Rating: NC-17 just to be safe.
Warnings: A bit of angst, and some tentacles and d/c in the future.
Disclaimer: If I owned anything in this, I'd be a rich rich rich bitch. However, I am not a rich rich rich bitch so you may all, therefore, assume I own nothing. Which I don't. It all belongs RTD and the BBC, in case any of you didn't know.
Summary: Ianto finds himself heartbroken and alone, but eventually learns that no matter what point in Captain Jack Harkness' life he finds himself, they will always fall in love.
Torchwood Index/Masterlist
First Part
Another Life
AL VI
The security doors at the top of the steps opened for him, and the Captain hurried down them into the damp, stone-walled cavity that was the basement. He stopped just behind the second door, leading to the main basement room.
He could hear crying.
Taking a deep breath, he touched the door handle and waited for the deadlocks to slide back to his touch, and pushed open the door.
The tears weren’t Ianto's ...
Ianto wandered down the stairs towards the basement, whistling. He rarely whistled, but he figured no one who caught him whistling now would know that, so he could be as loud and as jubilant as he wanted. He pushed open the security door, nodding to some of the fish swimming in a nearby tank, and began the descent to the lowest level of the building.
At the bottom of the stairs, he found a door right in front of him. Taking out his blueprints, he checked his location, and figured that he was stood in front of the main storage room in the basement. That’s no good ... he thought to himself, standing on his tiptoes to try and see through the murky, high-set window to glimpse what was inside.
Figuring that since it was the main room used for storage, they’d probably have to convert part of it and make it smaller so that the lifts would all join up - that was, after all, ideal. Pulling out the pen light he’d stolen borrowed from Jack’s desk, he examined his blueprints again, then nearly kicked himself.
In his head, he hadn’t compensated for the direction he was facing changing when he got to the u-turn in the stairs. The lifts would need to go behind him and to the right, and he could easily see there was plenty of room with a sturdy enough wall surrounding the space for it to be knocked back and a large column of machinery be put in. He paused, suddenly aware he could hear the sound of soft crying somewhere in the underground basement.
He, turned, straining his ears, and was certain there was someone weeping. Moving slightly, he could hear that the sound came from the main storage room. Biting his lip, he decided that if someone had come deep underground to vent, they probably wanted to be left alone. He knew he would. Decidedly ignoring it for now, he returned to inspecting the wall, and measuring height and length to ensure all the lift capsules would fit. He paused again when he heard footsteps beating down the stairs.
The closer the feet came, the louder the tears in the main room grew. Frowning, Ianto wondered if the distressed person was hiding, and could now hear ... whoever they were hiding from ... was coming. Slinking back into the shadows, Ianto waited until a shadowy figure appeared at the bottom of the stairs, looking around. He instantly recognised it was Jack, and was about to call him when the Captain reached out and touched the door. Deadlocks slid back, and tentatively, he entered the main room.
“Hey ...” he heard him say, sounding relieved. “... hey ... it’s okay ... c’mon now ...”
The door swung shut, so Ianto decided to leave the Captain with the mournful sounds coming from the basement - it sounded like it was someone the Captain knew, and had possibly been asked to go down there in an attempt to calm them down.
Satisfied he was getting his lifts, Ianto climbed back up the stairs onto the first floor and checked his watch. He was feeling a little hungry, so wandered towards the market. He figured he could get something to eat, and then see if his suit was ready. He could also get some things for the picnic tomorrow, when he would introduce Giacomo and Rhys to Till.
It took him almost no time to re-find Mr. Turnbull’s shop, and on the way he found a stand that sold some rather exquisite ties. Ianto had only one - and it wouldn’t go with the suit he had ordered. Mindful of the time he agreed to only quickly try on his new clothes, and hurriedly threw all the layers on.
“You’re a genius!” beamed Ianto, admiring the onyx-black shirt, the waistcoat with its even lapels, and the perfect cut of the jacket. He ran his new jet-black tie through his fingers, two acid green stripes diagonally painted just under the knot. Black and green - why had he never tried this combination before?
Taking it off and folding it neatly, he thanked Mr. Turnbull and left him another tip. Making his way back towards Jack’s office, Ianto began to climb the Bastard Stairs, thinking about how sure he was that Jack would let him store some of the food he bought that day in his fridge until he could take it home later, and maybe even put the suit on to see what the Captain’s reaction would be.
The stairs were quiet that time of day, and that was probably why he could hear them.
Two girls, sat in an alcove down the hall from the stairs. They couldn’t see him, and he couldn’t see them, but he could hear them clearly.
“... think it’s wonderful ...”
“Probably. I heard the Captain spent the night there, even though he’s got Blue-Eyes ready and waiting in his bed at home.”
“So?”
“Blue-Eyes is from a time when fidelity had a different meaning - I mean, kissing someone else was like ... the end of the world ...”
“Seriously? You think Blue-Eyes would dump him?”
The two girls started laughing. “Imagine that!” giggled the other one. “The Captain being dumped by a time refugee with crooked teeth and a funny accent!”
“Aww I think he’s cute! If the Captain don’t want him, I’ll have ‘im! And if the Captain does stick with him, he’d probably just turn him into another Gail anyway.”
“Gail?”
“Ohh! I forgot - you weren’t here then. The Captain’s woman before. She died under the bandstand a few days ago - that kid was the Captain’s, though he’d never admit it.”
“No! She was the Captain’s?”
“How do you think she got that flat? And no sooner is she gone, than his new favourite is in her place.”
“I thought he got a bit emotional when he was out there with the rubble!”
“’Emotional’?”
“Yeah - short tempered, spontaneously crying, not talking to anyone. He worked until his hands were cut and bleeding, and even then he didn’t stop. Most of the blood people saw in the carts of rubble was his.”
“You think he might’ve ... y’know ... ‘cleared the way’ for the Blue-Eyed Boy?”
“KAZ!”
“What? I’m not the only one thinking it!”
“You are on this corridor!”
“Am not! Where was he when the bandstand went down? He won’t say!”
“He was in his office! My partner was one of the first up there when the sirens went off! When they figured out who was under there, it was my partner that comforted him when he broke down!”
“I heard he got to the bandstand alone, and within moments of it happening.”
“Well I know he was in his office!”
Ianto delicately cleared his throat, and the two women shrank back when they saw he was there.
“Interesting conversation you’re having.” he commented jovially. “Now, I’m sure I can quite easily forget your wild and ridiculous accusations about the Captain and the bandstand - if you tell me where he apparently ‘spent the night’.” he offered.
The women gave each other shifty looks. “Erm ...” Ianto recognised her voice as being the one that had defended Jack. “His name is Theo. He lives in four-one-nine.”
“Thank you. Good day, ladies.”
Ianto turned on his heel and carried on up the stairs, his head swimming. Jack had been with someone else? He promised he wouldn’t ...
He arrived at Jack’s office, hardly noticing how out of breath he was as he pushed open the door (usually, he waited until he got his breath back before entering the office for appearance’s sake). The Captain wasn’t back yet, and that just annoyed Ianto further. He thought of the tears in the basement, and wondered if maybe the distressed sounds were coming from ‘Theo’, and Ianto had walked away from catching them.
Putting his chilled foods into the fridge in Jack’s kitchenette, then making himself some coffee, Ianto found he couldn’t stop fidgeting. He began pacing the length of the kitchenette, out through Jack’s office and then back to the other side of the kitchen.
“Where have you been?” Ianto asked the instant Jack entered the office.
“Erm ... out?” offered the Captain with a frown.
“Out where?”
“I went for a walk.” shrugged Jack. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked, walking past him, taking his hand as he went and tugging him towards the spiral stairs that lead to the Captain’s house.
“Nothing.” Ianto lied, allowing himself to be guided down and into the bedroom. Jack pulled him under the covers, hardly giving him chance to take his shoes and socks off first. They began kissing languidly, before speeding up as Ianto guided the Captain onto his back, straddling him, kissing and biting his neck while palming his erection.
Jack moaned and scratched his shoulders, arching his back as Ianto began to unbutton his shirt and move lower, pulling his trousers open. He paused with his tongue mid-swirl over the head of Jack’s cock, and the Captain groaned in frustration.
“Do you have any restraints?” Ianto asked, smirking the little wicked smirk that made Jack’s cock get even harder. Scrambling a little, he pulled a thin wire out of his pocket, and as Ianto watched him squeeze an end between his fingers, the metal expanded until there was a pair of handcuffs being held out to him. He took them with another smirk, and bound the Captain’s wrists above his head to the headboard.
Ianto began teasing him again, listening to him moan and gasp, waiting until he was desperate and keening before pulling back completely, sitting back on his heels. Jack glared at him, shaking the restraints, growling in frustration.
“I have a couple of questions.” Ianto told him calmly.
“What?” gasped Jack.
“I have a couple of questions.” Ianto repeated. “Firstly: who is Theo?”
“Theo?”
“He lives in four-one-nine, apparently.”
“Good for him. Ianto ...!” Jack begged.
Ianto was satisfied with that answer. “Secondly,” he continued. “Have you slept with anyone else since you took me as your lover?”
“It hasn’t been three days!” gasped Jack. “Please, Ianto!”
The Captain squirmed as Ianto squeezed his erection, sighing in pleasure as tongue swirled around the head and fingers curled around the length. Again, Ianto pulled away at the very last moment.
“Thirdly:”
“IANTO!”
“Thirdly: how many children here are yours?”
Jack stared at him, and Ianto stared back. Eventually, Jack broke the silence, glancing away and biting his lip.
“Three.” he admitted quietly. “Three of them are mine.”
Ianto nodded silently, and reached out, taking Jack’s cock again, leaning forward and taking him all the way in. He listened as Jack cried out, the handcuffs rattling against the headboard. He came hard, straight down Ianto's throat and he didn’t even get to taste it. Crawling up Jack’s body, Ianto kissed him gently, holding him tight.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Ianto asked gently.
“They don’t know.” Jack replied, his arms limp where the restraints held him.
“Their names?”
“Jacqueline, Jacob and ... and Giacomo.”
Ianto sat up again, and Jack couldn’t look at him.
“Your son? I’m supposed to be raising your son?”
“That’s just how it happened.” Jack assured him.
“His mother killed herself ...”
“No - his mother died in childbirth. The woman that killed herself was not his biological mother.”
“You didn’t consider raising any of your children yourself?”
Jack stared at him. “Look at me.” he eventually sighed. “Look at me: am I a good father? Would I make a good role model? And ... you know ... you know how ... I can’t die ....”
“If you didn’t want to face the consequences, you should have been more careful!” Ianto snapped, reaching out to unfasten the handcuffs. Jack rubbed his wrists where the restraints had cut in slightly, unable to make eye contact with Ianto. Ianto bit his lip and took a deep breath. “You would be a good father.” he assured him.
Jack shook his head. “You’ve no idea.”
“Just ... you could at least let them know.”
“No.” Jack muttered hoarsely.
“Jac -”
“This isn’t any of your business, Ianto.” the Captain warned.
“I just want what’s best ...”
“Leave things how they are. Please.”
Ianto searched his face, and decided to concede. This was Jack’s life - he pointedly decided to ignore the fact there were three other lives involved as well - and it was right, for now, to leave it. With a heavy heart he sat, leaning back against the headboard, next to the Captain. Glancing over at him, Ianto could see he was tentative and unsure as to whether he and Ianto were still on easy terms, biting his lip and curling his fingers into the duvet. Ianto smiled to himself, putting a hand on Jack’s shoulder, holding his arms open in offering. The Captain looked ... relieved? ... and leant sideways until he practically fell across Ianto's lap, an arm snaked around his back.
Ianto stroked his hair as they sat in silence for a while. He tensed when Jack suddenly jumped, sitting up straight, but relaxed with a smile when he told him what he’d thought of.
“I just remembered who ‘Theo’ is!” he grinned.
“Who?”
“Blond highlights, curtain cut. Tried coming onto me yesterday and I knocked him back.”
“You sure?”
“Yep.”
“Okay - looks like I’m going to have to go round to his and tell him to stop spreading rumours.”
“Rumours?”
“Heard a couple of gossips on my way up the stairs.” shrugged Ianto. “Decided to use the only one-hundred-per-cent-success-rated method to get the truth.”
Jack gave a small laugh, though it sounded rather forced and disgruntled. Ianto smiled to himself, shifting until he was lying beside Jack. “You have a favour to return ...” he smirked softly. Jack arched an eyebrow, smiling back with a wicked edge.
“Do I get to tie you up?”
“Hmmm ... maybe ...”
They moved closer together, lips touching softly, kissing gently as Ianto waited for Jack to take the lead. He pulled back when he realised he wasn’t going to.
“What’s wrong?” Jack asked.
“Aren’t you gonna ... move things along a bit?”
“I thought you were going to.”
“You’re tying me up, remember?”
“Ah yeah ...” smiled Jack, and moved forward, kissing him again, this time pushing him onto his back and straddling his hips. He made quick work of unfastening his shirt, and flipped him onto his stomach with a harsh tug as he pulled a sleeve off.
“Ha! Nice trick!” laughed Ianto, before moaning softly as Jack’s lips found his neck as he lay on his front, the Captain’s body covering his. He felt the cold metal slip around one of his wrists, and jumped when he realised Jack was guiding it behind his back to be bound with the other one. “No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no ....” he gasped, trying not to panic.
“What? Have I done something wrong?”
“I just ... don’t ... I want ... I need to see my hands.”
Jack seemed to understand immediately. “Let’s ... forego the cuffs for now.” he suggested. “Maybe talk about it a bit more another time, yeah?”
Ianto turned onto his back and nodded.
“Woahh ...” Jack breathed, taking in the wild look in his eyes and the blood seeping from where he’d bit his lip too hard. “It’s okay, Ianto. You’re with me, you’re safe. Look - it’s not even on your wrist anymore ...”
“Sorry.” sniffed Ianto.
“I’m sorrier.” Jack leant down and kissed him, tasting the iron in his blood and then flopping down to lie beside him, silently acknowledging Ianto probably didn’t want to have sex right now.
“Thanks.” muttered Ianto, fastening up his shirt hurriedly.
“Oo! I got you a present!” Jack beamed before Ianto could run off.
Ianto flushed crimson. “You ... got me a present? Really?”
“Yep. Look.”
Jack disappeared, rooting under the bed. He eventually pulled out a rectangular wooden box with sides ridged like chocolate fingers lying together, and elegant birds carved into the top. Ianto took it from him, and gave it a gentle shake. He heard something rattle inside. “What is it?” he asked.
“That’s for you to find out.” smiled Jack. “It’s a puzzle box, and inside is your prize.”
“What’s my prize?”
Jack laughed. “Not telling.”
Ianto tried to force the box open, but it refused to give. “Start me off.” he demanded, thrusting the box at the Captain. He simply held his hands up, palms out, and shook his head playfully.
“You have to do it yourself.”
Ianto sighed, and looked down at the box. “Fine.” he grumbled. “But my prize better be good!”
~*~*~*~
“So,” the Captain addressed the hall, filled with every single person in the School who could be spared. Those who weren't there would probably find out from people who had attended. There were thousands there, all seated quietly in the enormous seating banks. "from now on, the weekend trips will be annually every other Saturday and Sunday. They will be overviewed by Ianto Jones, but trips will only be provided on suggestion. Send him a letter telling him where you want to go, and he'll get back to you as to whether or not it's do-able. Check the noticeboard for available activities, and everything has to be booked at least two days before. This is an excellent chance for you to get out there and see the world, and learn first-hand how it functions with its social climate."
There was muttering around the hall, buzzing with excitement. After a couple more items to cover, Jack came down from the stage where Ianto was waiting for him with a glass of water. He sipped it gratefully.
"You were right." smiled the Captain. "They love the idea of going out."
"I think it's what they need." nodded Ianto, as a small woman with mousy hair came towards them, followed by a gaggle of people. She took the Captain's hand firmly and shook it, grinning.
"Always wanted to see what was out there - can't wait! Just can't wait! Shopping! Cinema! It'll be wonderful!"
The people around were echoing her sentiment, thanking the rather surprised Captain and all shaking or kissing his hand. "Oh ... it ... it wasn't my ...." he glanced over at Ianto, who gave him a slight smile and nod. "Well ..." Jack cleared his throat. Ianto would let him have this one. "... well, it just makes sense, if you think about it. You're supposed to be adapting to this world - what's the use of you never going there?"
They all nodded, and several more people were waiting in the crowd to thank the Captain - just for letting them go outside the boundaries. Ianto sighed and stepped back, busying himself with finding something to do.
"You're letting him take the credit." a voice stated near him, bluntly. Ianto turned, and saw Vegas leaning by an empty table.
"Yep." Ianto agreed.
"Why?"
"Because how they see him is more important than how they see me."
"That could be you though, being adored by all those people. Just for saying 'hey - why not let them outside!'."
"It could be, but it's not. And I hate being the centre of attention, so it all works out, really."
"You know he's been sleeping with someone else?"
"I heard that rumour, too." smiled Ianto, folding his arms.
"Theo had him the night before last." Vegas smirked.
"Did he?"
Ianto nearly laughed with relief.
"Night before last ... night before last ... where was I, night before last? Ahhh yes - in bed with the Captain. That was it!"
Vegas' expression turned stony.
Ianto sighed. "Please, Vegas. Stop it. No one finds this endearing, and you're just making yourself look like a tit in the breeze."
He glared at Ianto, and Ianto threw his hands up, turning away and leaving him to stew.
It was nearly half an hour before Jack could shake off the crowd around him, and he was pretty much exhausted when he was allowed to get away from them. Ianto gave him another glass of water, and they smiled at each other.
"Thanks for ..."
"Don't mention it."
Jack nodded, but Ianto knew he appreciated it. He was taken by surprise when the Captain kissed him, but soon forgot everything as he kissed him back. They were disturbed by the clearing of a throat near them, and Ianto pulled away and turned a little pink when he saw Rhys and Giacomo stood nearby.
"Your tea should be out at six," Rhys grinned. "and Jack's done you a drawing ..."
Ianto crouched down and took a sheet of paper covered in coloured scribbles from Giacomo. He studied it carefully. "Is it ... me?" he ventured to ask. Giacomo nodded.
"That's you ... and that's Rhys ... and that's our telly ... and that's a dog."
"I could tell." Ianto lied, and Giacomo's face lit up. "You're very good at drawing. We'll have to put this up on the fridge at home."
"I drawed it so you could put it in your office." explained Giacomo, hiding behind Rhys' leg a little.
"Oh!" grinned Ianto. "I wanted to put it in my office, but I thought you might want to be able to see it. This is lovely, Jack. I'll put it on the wall opposite my desk so I can look up and always see it."
Giacomo smiled wider, and reached out to hug him. Awkwardly, Ianto hugged him back, not expecting the contact and breaking it probably a little sooner than Giacomo expected.
"I'll see you later." Ianto told them, and they both bade him goodbye. He turned back, expecting to find the Captain, only to find empty air where he had once inhabited. Ianto looked around, and spotted him chatting to an elderly man in the futuristic monks' robes the teachers seemed to wear. He wandered over, folding up Giacomo's drawing and putting it in his pocket.
The Captain caught his eye, and Ianto sensed the pleading in them. He hurried a little, and touched Jack's arm. "Captain - I need to speak to you. It's urgent."
"What is it?" he asked, turning and showing the professor his priorities for conversation had changed.
"It's ... to do with the repairs, sir?"
"Repairs?" repeated Jack, pretending he had no idea and urging Ianto to get himself into a lie.
"Yes ... the ... repairs."
"What repairs?"
"To ... your bed, sir. I believe on your Maintenance Request forms you labelled it as 'damage through inappropriate use'?" he deadpanned, remembering his Jack's own claims forms.
The professor sniggered. "I'll be off then, Captain."
He excused himself and exited the large auditorium.
"'Damage through inappropriate use'?" Jack raised an eyebrow.
Ianto smirked. "I could have said 'incident with a giant stapler'. That was another favourite."
Jack laughed, and put his arm around Ianto's waist as he leaned in to kiss his cheek. He kept it there as he began to guide Ianto towards the exit.
"You sure you can handle organising these trips, the files in my office, the list of things that need to be added or changed and refurbished, accounts, my schedule and keeping your family happy?"
"I'm sure I'll manage." Ianto smiled. "Really, I can do this."
"It's not too much?"
"If it becomes too much, I'll get an assistant."
"Oooo ... threesome ..." smirked Jack.
Ianto rolled his eyes and they fell into step as they began to make their way upstairs.
"Are you going to stay at the flat tonight?" Jack asked him as they neared the top.
"I'll sleep at yours, if that's what you want."
"Yeah."
"Well ... anyway ... back to work!"
Ianto nodded, leaving him at his office door and going further down the corridor to where the records were kept. Were it not for his little trip to the market or the conference this afternoon, Ianto would have had everything in order by now. He sighed heavily, bypassing the Records Office, and carrying on until he got to the room at the end of the hall signposted as 'Accounts'. He pushed open the door and the light flicked on.
It was an office, spacious, and contained nothing more than a desk and chair. This time the day before, it had been a total mess. Someone had been in since, cleaning away the thick layer of dust, fetching a new chair and fixing the drawer. The scattered paper that had been dumped there was gone, replaced by files of neat documents waiting to be sorted, and there was a memo saying that new filing cabinets were going to be delivered for the room, as well as a computer and another chair.
Ianto liked to think that Jack was behind it all, if not physically involved.
Smiling to himself, he retrieved a thumb tack from the disused cork board by the window, and used it to pin Giacomo's drawing to the wall by the door, opposite his desk. He sat down in his large, cosy chair and grinned up at it. For some reason, it made him feel warm inside. Sitting back, he sighed and massaged his temples.
Giacomo was Jack's son. His baby.
Ianto gave a small laugh to the empty room, remembering the name of the Captain's children. Jacqueline, Jacob and Giacomo. All containing a variation of 'Jack', the vain bastard. Or maybe that was just so that he could remember which ones were his ....
Shaking the thought from his mind, Ianto checked his watch. Five 'o' clock.
Opening the drawer beside him, he pulled out the puzzle box Jack had given him earlier. Right, he thought. That gives me an hour to get you the Hell open ...
He commenced the struggle.
I was just talking to my cousin, who I haven't seen since Easter.
The only Torchwood she's seen is Day One, Day Two and half of Day Three (cuz she got bored).
The worst thing is ... she didn't know Jack and Ianto were together. She was actually confused that Jack kissed him, shrugged her shoulders and went "well ... I just thought ... y'know ... it's Jack ... he was about to die, and Ianto has a pulse ..."
Now excuse me while I go and educate her with Series 1 and 2.
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