On A Cold, Clear, Winter Day
Title: On A Cold, Clear, Winter Day
Author: catalinacat
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: PG-13
Prompt: from redismycolour . An excerpt from The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Summary: In fact, he had given himself a pat on the back more than once, metaphorically speaking of course, for his ability to keep a grip on things that would send most people to the loony house - or at least the supermarket for a jumbo sized tub of Ben & Jerry's followed by a good long cry.
Warnings: AU from Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.
A/N: This is for Day Six of redismycolour. It's part of the same AU verse "Life's A Circus" that was started with the first prompt :)
Ianto had always considered himself to be a pretty well adjusted person.
Well, okay, as well adjusted as a person who goes head-to-head with aliens, has flings with men who are possibly not from this world and probably not from this time, gives pterodactyls pet names, and has to work with Owen Harper can possibly be.
So, all in all, maybe not as well adjusted as one might hope, but he was always pretty proud of the fact that he hadn’t gone off the deep end just yet.
In fact, he had given himself a pat on the back more than once, metaphorically speaking, of course, for his ability to keep a grip on things that would send most people to the loony house - or at least the supermarket for a jumbo sized tub of Ben & Jerry’s followed by a good long cry.
There were some things, however, that still rattled him.
Owen’s breath after consuming his favorite meal of sardines and habanero sauce, for one. (Ianto learned long ago to not question that particular eating habit. Questioning using ended in flung miniature fishes, and that was never pretty.)
Tosh’s fanatical love of Paul O’Grady was another. (Again, Ianto learned not to question that. Tosh could send out one mean virus, and Ianto was pretty tired of buying new computers.)
But what was shaking him to his bones at this very moment was the feel of a large hand enveloping his.
It was unlike anything he had ever felt before, and he actually looked down at the interlinked fingers in wonder before he realized what he was doing and snapped his head back up, face and neck burning red.
Beside him, Ianto heard the deep rumble of Jack’s laugh and he felt warmer suddenly.
It had been a long time since he heard that symphony of sound, and it was comforting to listen it once more.
“You’ve never- I, I mean we haven’t-“ he stuttered.
“Held hands?” Jack asked, then sighed, “Yeah, I know. I wonder why? It feels nice, doesn’t it?”
Ianto felt himself nodding in agreement and cursed his traitorous body for giving him away.
“Should have done this months ago,” Jack said, “Along with everything else that we always seemed to be too busy for.”
“We are too busy, Jack.” Ianto protested, trying to wriggle out of the touch.
It was nice, to be sure, but it also felt awkward and unreal, like it wasn’t him exactly holding Jack’s hand.
Jack let go with a look of what Ianto would have thought to be reluctance if he hadn’t known Jack better.
Obviously, he was trying to placate Ianto.
Well, trying to keep Tosh from castrating him with her bare hands, more likely.
But Ianto wasn’t a child, and he could handle whatever life threw his way - even if it was the realization that this man he had been falling in love with really didn’t care after all.
So he stepped away from Jack more decisively and turned to walk out the office.
“Shall I get you a new cup of coffee, Sir? I expect the other one has chilled by now.”
Ianto glanced back and saw Jack sitting with his head in his hands, and heard him sigh, “No, thank you, Ianto. This’ll do just fine.”
So he left the room, walking back downstairs then out to the Tourist Office
Ianto took a deep breath when he walked into the small building, taking in the just discernable scents of coffee, sea, and that contraband alien incense that smelled so good.
This was his haven, his home, more so than the Hub would ever be.
Ianto looked out from the small window by the door and saw that the previously dreary weather had disappeared to reveal a cold, but clear, winter day, and he felt heartened.
He would get through this like he got through everything else.
The storm would clear sooner or later. He was sure of it.
Author: catalinacat
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: PG-13
Prompt: from redismycolour . An excerpt from The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Summary: In fact, he had given himself a pat on the back more than once, metaphorically speaking of course, for his ability to keep a grip on things that would send most people to the loony house - or at least the supermarket for a jumbo sized tub of Ben & Jerry's followed by a good long cry.
Warnings: AU from Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.
A/N: This is for Day Six of redismycolour. It's part of the same AU verse "Life's A Circus" that was started with the first prompt :)
Ianto had always considered himself to be a pretty well adjusted person.
Well, okay, as well adjusted as a person who goes head-to-head with aliens, has flings with men who are possibly not from this world and probably not from this time, gives pterodactyls pet names, and has to work with Owen Harper can possibly be.
So, all in all, maybe not as well adjusted as one might hope, but he was always pretty proud of the fact that he hadn’t gone off the deep end just yet.
In fact, he had given himself a pat on the back more than once, metaphorically speaking, of course, for his ability to keep a grip on things that would send most people to the loony house - or at least the supermarket for a jumbo sized tub of Ben & Jerry’s followed by a good long cry.
There were some things, however, that still rattled him.
Owen’s breath after consuming his favorite meal of sardines and habanero sauce, for one. (Ianto learned long ago to not question that particular eating habit. Questioning using ended in flung miniature fishes, and that was never pretty.)
Tosh’s fanatical love of Paul O’Grady was another. (Again, Ianto learned not to question that. Tosh could send out one mean virus, and Ianto was pretty tired of buying new computers.)
But what was shaking him to his bones at this very moment was the feel of a large hand enveloping his.
It was unlike anything he had ever felt before, and he actually looked down at the interlinked fingers in wonder before he realized what he was doing and snapped his head back up, face and neck burning red.
Beside him, Ianto heard the deep rumble of Jack’s laugh and he felt warmer suddenly.
It had been a long time since he heard that symphony of sound, and it was comforting to listen it once more.
“You’ve never- I, I mean we haven’t-“ he stuttered.
“Held hands?” Jack asked, then sighed, “Yeah, I know. I wonder why? It feels nice, doesn’t it?”
Ianto felt himself nodding in agreement and cursed his traitorous body for giving him away.
“Should have done this months ago,” Jack said, “Along with everything else that we always seemed to be too busy for.”
“We are too busy, Jack.” Ianto protested, trying to wriggle out of the touch.
It was nice, to be sure, but it also felt awkward and unreal, like it wasn’t him exactly holding Jack’s hand.
Jack let go with a look of what Ianto would have thought to be reluctance if he hadn’t known Jack better.
Obviously, he was trying to placate Ianto.
Well, trying to keep Tosh from castrating him with her bare hands, more likely.
But Ianto wasn’t a child, and he could handle whatever life threw his way - even if it was the realization that this man he had been falling in love with really didn’t care after all.
So he stepped away from Jack more decisively and turned to walk out the office.
“Shall I get you a new cup of coffee, Sir? I expect the other one has chilled by now.”
Ianto glanced back and saw Jack sitting with his head in his hands, and heard him sigh, “No, thank you, Ianto. This’ll do just fine.”
So he left the room, walking back downstairs then out to the Tourist Office
Ianto took a deep breath when he walked into the small building, taking in the just discernable scents of coffee, sea, and that contraband alien incense that smelled so good.
This was his haven, his home, more so than the Hub would ever be.
Ianto looked out from the small window by the door and saw that the previously dreary weather had disappeared to reveal a cold, but clear, winter day, and he felt heartened.
He would get through this like he got through everything else.
The storm would clear sooner or later. He was sure of it.