Fic- Real Life
Title: Real Life
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: Teen- mild angst, mild spanking, swearing
Spoilers: Mild for Exit Wounds
Summary: Ianto goes out at lunchtime.
Disclaimers: I own nothing!
Notes: Written after my first trip to the plas in Cardiff. It's gorgeous there!
Ianto liked to go out for lunch. When he stayed in the hub to eat, Jack tended to watch him eat every bite, as if not sure he would actually eat anything. It drove Ianto insane.
It was a sunny day and Ianto didn’t feel like staying cooped up inside the hub so he went out for his lunch.
He left by the tourist office and walked slowly along the wooden slats towards the plass. He liked the plass. He felt at home in the plass. Here, he could see glimpses of real, ordinary life and it made everything bearable.
He sat down on the large steps and watched the kids tossing rugby balls back and forth. Was it a Saturday? He wasn’t sure. Maybe it was the holidays. Ianto supposed he should know. But he didn’t.
He knew he was supposed to be eating lunch but he wasn’t hungry. His eyes drifted to the water tower and he tried not to think about his whole world beneath those huge stone slabs around the tower.
Instead, he watched the slick water travelling down the shining tower. He watched the tiny tots pressing their lips to it to taste the water. They wouldn’t be nearly so interested in the water if they saw what was underneath it. Ianto put that out of his mind. He didn’t want to think about it.
He gazed up at the millennium centre itself. He remembered how huge it had seemed the first time he’d seen it.
“You like ‘em big, don’t ya, Ianto,” said a sudden familiar voice.
Ianto’s eyes drifted to the feet standing in front of him. “You shouldn’t say things like that when there are kids around, Jack.”
Jack was grinning and, at Ianto’s words, he grinned wider and plopped himself down on the steps beside Ianto.
“Have you eaten lunch?” Jack asked, attempting to be casual.
Ianto rolled his eyes. “Don’t start, Jack.”
Jack leaned back nonchalantly against the huge step behind him. “I’m just noticing you’re not holding an empty sandwich packet or anything.”
“I said don’t start.”
Jack held up his hands. “All right.” He pressed a finger to his lips and smirked. “This is me, keeping my mouth shut.”
Ianto snorted. “I’d like to see that!”
Jack didn’t say anything and Ianto turned his gaze back to the kids playing in the plas. They were carefree, innocent and completely ignorant of the horrors in the world. Ianto couldn’t remember when he’d been like that. Had he ever been? Carefree seemed like a completely alien concept to him.
Ianto glanced briefly at Jack. Jack was leaning on one elbow and staring blankly ahead. Ianto couldn’t tell whether he was actually watching the kids or not, or watching anything at all. He seemed lost in thought himself.
Ianto wanted to lean against him, but not here. Not in public. It just wasn’t done.
Jack shifted suddenly and noticed Ianto watching him. His blue eyes took Ianto in for a few moments in silence before he spoke.
“Do you want me to go?” he asked softly.
Ianto considered, then shook his head. “No.” He glanced around at the busy plas. “Wish I could…”
“What?”
“Hold your hand or something.”
Jack looked at him, a rather confused expression on his face. “Why can’t you?”
Ianto glanced around. “Well…cause we’re in public.”
Jack chuckled. “Ianto, I’ve walked around this bay holding hands with men all the way through the 20th century. If nobody cared then, why should anyone care in the 21st century?”
Ianto shrugged. “They do care.”
Jack grinned, then reached out and grabbed Ianto’s hand firmly. He leaned in close.
“Fuck ‘em,” he hissed, then stood, tugging Ianto to his feet with him. “Come on,” he said, still holding his hand firmly. “Let’s go and get an ice cream.”
Ianto thought about pulling his hand away but nobody was watching and Jack’s hand felt soft and warm in his, keeping him secure.
They walked through the plas, up the stairs and along to the cafés along the top. Jack bought them an ice cream, and they leaned against the barrier and ate their ice creams.
Ianto could feel Jack watching him surreptitiously. “You know it drives me mad when you watch me like that.”
Jack shrugged. “Just like looking at you.”
Ianto frowned at him. “No, you’re just trying to make sure I’m eating.”
“That’s because you don’t eat sometimes.”
Ianto stared at his chocolate flake and didn’t say anything. He could still feel Jack watching him still and there was a long silence.
Then Jack cleared his throat. “The thing about coming out for lunch is that you get to spot all the hot young businessmen and women out for their lunch.”
Ianto glanced at him. Jack was gazing down and the people walking past them on the lower level. Ianto smiled.
“You’re incorrigible.”
Jack grinned at him. “Yes, I am.” Jack finished his ice cream and put his arms around Ianto’s waist from behind.
“Ianto,” he murmured, resting his head on Ianto’s shoulder. “I do like looking at you, you know.”
“I know.” Ianto finished his ice cream and took Jack’s hand. “Come on. Let’s go back inside. Gwen won’t be back for a while.”
Jack grinned and let Ianto lead him back into the hub.
Ianto knew Jack worried about him. But he didn’t want to think about it. He wanted it to just go away.
They went back into the hub and Ianto found himself in Jack’s office. He pressed Jack to the office chair and found his lips. Jack held him against him, between his legs and snogged him thoroughly.
This was what Ianto needed. No thinking, no talking, just snogging. He moaned into the kiss, pressing against Jack.
Suddenly, he realised he was leaning against Jack and holding onto him tight. His head was swimming and he couldn’t keep himself upright. He stumbled and Jack caught him in his strong arms.
“See, this is what happens when you don’t eat,” Jack murmured, sitting Ianto down in his chair.
Ianto frowned, holding onto the arms of the chair so tightly his fingers went white. “I’m fine.”
“Yeah, sure. Just stay right there.”
Jack hurried off towards the kitchen area and Ianto stayed right where he was, mainly because of the fear he’d pass out if he stood up.
Jack wasn’t gone long. He returned with one of Ianto’s protein shakes made up in a tall glass.
“You need to drink this,” he said firmly, ignoring Ianto’s scowl. He perched on the arm of the chair, put his arm around Ianto’s shoulders and held the glass to his lips.
“Come on.”
Ianto turned his head away. “Jack, I don’t want to.”
“I know. But you’ve got to. Now.”
Ianto hesitated. Jack stoked his hair. “Come on, my boy. You can do it.”
Ianto made a face but let Jack feed him the shake.
He hated to admit it but, once the shake was all gone, Ianto did feel better. He pressed his face into Jack’s chest and breathed in the scent of him.
“Are you mad at me?”
Jack stroked his back. “No. Just worried.” He kissed the top of Ianto’s head. “You need to stop thinking you can hide this from me. I just know you too damn well. I can tell.”
Ianto looked up at him. “Sorry. I don’t mean to…it’s just…”
“I know. You feel like you need it. I understand, really I do. I just want to help you get over it.”
Ianto bit his lip. “Am I in trouble?”
Jack smiled. He put his arms around Ianto and set him on his feet. “Hmm, you do need dealing with.” He lifted Ianto’s jacket up at the back and gave his bottom a hard smack over his trousers.
Ianto whimpered and wriggled and Jack grinned. “There ya go. All punished.”
Ianto started to giggle. He rubbed his bottom and tried to pout through his laughter. “Ouch, you’re ever so stern, sir.”
Jack grinned and held him close. “You bet, my boy.” He found Ianto’s hand and held it firmly. “I’ve decided something. And I will be obeyed.”
Ianto frowned at him. “What’s that?”
“You need to get out in the daytime every day. And you also need to eat. So, from now on, we’re going to go out for lunch together.”
Ianto smiled and snuggled into Jack’s arms. “It’s a deal. I like the bay, Jack. I can see real life, you know?”
Jack nodded. “I know. Real life is important. And I’m sorry about keeping you from it sometimes.”
Ianto opened his mouth to argue but Jack shook his head.
“No, I know I do sometimes. Because you want to stay in here with me and I let you. Well, no more. We’re both gonna get a bit more real life from now on.”