[TWFanFic] it sounded like goodbye (Jack/Ianto (Gwen))
it sounded like goodbye;
Ianto/Jack, (Gwen);
U-Rated, 619words, coda: 2.09 Something Borrowed;
After the wedding, Jack and Ianto head back to the hub.
“You’re not staying?” Jack asked, looking at Ianto in obvious surprise. They’d finally trudged their wary way back to the hub after hours spent conditioning the guests to remember nothing of the extra-terrestrial occurrences that had gone on throughout the course of Gwen’s wedding day. It was going on the early am before Jack was satisfied that each and every guest would wake later that morning speaking of nothing but the wedding and how truly wonderful it had been.
Ianto looked up at Jack, his fingers stilling on the buttons of his coat as he forced a smile.
“I think not, sir.” He answered. After cleaning out the SUV and taking a quick inventory of weaponry and ammunition, Ianto was looking forward to nothing more than a long hot shower and an even longer sleep. Jack had already told them all to come in whenever they felt like it tomorrow- or later today, he supposed- and for once Ianto had every intention of taking Jack up on his offer.
Jack blinked at him, his surprise turning to confusion as he looked at Ianto. “But… I thought you were going to show me just how well you could tell a man’s-,”
“I’m tired,” Ianto interrupted, causing Jack- who’d been inching his way forward- to pause a moment. “It’s been a long day. And I’m going home. Alone.” He added as Jack started to leer at him.
“Sure I can’t tempt you to stay?” Jack asked with a wink in Ianto’s direction.
“Positive.” Ianto replied, his face expressionless under Jack’s scrutiny.
“Ianto-,” Jack began but Ianto was already turning away, clearly intent on leaving.
“Whoa, hold up.” Jack was at his side in an instant. His hand gently restraining as it rested upon his arm.
“You’re upset,” he asked, though it came out more a statement than a question. Ianto looked at him, mouth thinning and eyes flashing with anger.
“Of course I’m upset!” Ianto bit out and Jack visibly stepped back under the ferocity of his tone.
“I made a fool of myself today, Jack,” He pulled his arm forcibly from Jack’s lingering touch. “I made a fool of myself for you.”
“Ianto, what-,” Jack frowned, uncomprehending.
“How can you be so thick-headed?” Ianto snapped, “Gwen! I’m talking about Gwen, and the way you are around her. The way you were looking at her today. And the way she looked at you. It was intense. People were starting to notice. Rhys was starting to notice.”
“Ianto, you can’t really believe that I’d-,” Jack began, tone placating.
“-do something like that?” Ianto interrupted, and Jack had the grace to look uncomfortable in the face of Ianto’s accusatory tone.
“Jack, you looked like you were about to kiss her,” Ianto bit out, “and she really didn’t look too upset at the idea.”
“Is that why you asked me to dance?” Jack asked softly.
“I had to do something.” Ianto said, and Jack raised his eyebrows. “Although, the more I think about it, the more I wonder if I shouldn’t have left the two of you. You could do with good smacking.”
Jack grinned then, waggling his eyebrows as he reached for Ianto, “We’re not talking the kinky kind here, are we?”
Ianto flushed, offended and angry at Jack’s apparent inability to take anything seriously. He shoved at Jack, backing away from his reaching arms with a look of disgust.
“Oh come now, Ianto, I was only joking,” Jack laughed, hands up in defence and looking not in the least bit apologetic.
Ianto closed his eyes briefly, unable to find the words to reply to that. He looked at Jack again, shook his head.
“Goodnight, Jack.” He said instead. It sounded like goodbye.
[ end. ]
[ Written for Caspe-Wri-Mo ’09 ]