Nothing Lost 5/5
Title: Nothing Lost (5/5)
Author: dwolf34
Rating: R. m/m/alien sex. Really. Sorry, I meant finally.
Characters/Pairings: Torchwood team, Notlar (original character), Jack/Ianto/Notlar
Disclaimer: Torchwood and its characters don't belong to me; nice folks at the BBC got to them first. Just borrowing, no profit, everyone goes home unharmed.
Spoilers: Maybe some for TW season one and two, somewhere. Assumes Kiss Kiss Bang Bang occured, but has gone all AU from there.
Two and a half years later, and I can't believe I didn't get this up. So sorry for how long this has taken to finish and post, but here it finally is, after so many personal heartbreaks (and bone breaks) life changes. Many thanks to coffeegirl18 for the beta job, loads of support and squees, and putting up with my silly emails and occasional soapbox swaps. I still claim all strange uses of punctuation as my own, even though she tried to set me straight. Remaining misspellings are entirely the fault of my spell checker. Me taking a leap into posting something that I'm still working on is all about skellerbvvt poking me and sanginmychains for so politely asking for an update. And don't forget the donuts and chocolate. Mmmm.
Summary: Follows "The Things Jack Does", and "Not Sleeping" and is a continuation of the storyline. Gwen and Rhys need rescuing, and decisions need to be made about Notlar.
"Part 1 Here"
"Part 2 Here"
"Part 3 Here"
"Part 4 Here"
Fragments returned first. The tickle of incredibly soft fur against his cheek. The sting of some small wound at his shoulder. The hot smell of recent sex. The gentle wet sound of a slow kiss. A strong arm tucked around him. They were good, safe, warm fragments, and so Jack gathered them up and spent a few moments simply cherishing them. The rest of the world could trickle in slowly. Maybe it would take its time, for once.
Notlar's voice with it's Drisillian rumble echoed in the chest that was Jack's pillow. It murmured something sweet to it's kissing partner. Then warm lips were on his, and the taste and feel of Ianto filled his mouth. Jack gave the kiss his full attention until Ianto pulled back, gasping for air. Jack opened his eyes to the sunny sight of Ianto's grin, then moved and turned enough to kiss Notlar. There was no way he was leaving either of the partners who were the cause of his totally satisfied, lazy, warm current state out of anything. Especially kisses.
"That was intense," Ianto remarked quietly, sounding far too calm and collected.
Jack finished the kiss before turning to Ianto. "I agree. Learn anything?"
Ianto was drawing patterns in Notlar's chest fur with one finger. "Everything I'd hoped to." He caressed Jack's cheek, then returned to that soft fur. "I can do this."
Relief washed through Jack. "You really are a marvel. And you don't know how much your support means, Ianto Jones." He kissed his young lover again in sheer appreciation.
"I have an idea," Ianto said, just a little breathlessly. He turned to Notlar, who'd been quiet and still. "Fur is too distracting, Notlar. Give us Dylan, please."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Dylan's not distracting?" He rolled reluctantly away from Notlar, giving the alien room to move. He couldn't stop himself from stealing one more caress of that soft fur and firm flesh.
Ianto grinned. "Well, not as distracting. Do we need clothing to keep you focused on something other than sex, Jack?"
Jack gave the question some mock serious thought, but Notlar beat him to the punchline. "I'm not really sure clothing would help." It had made its way off the bed, and its form was already blurring again, shrinking.
Jack tried for an indignant look. "What's wrong with focusing on sex?" But he was moving, sitting up, and Ianto followed his lead.
"Nothing's wrong with focusing on sex, while we're having it." Ianto gave it a matter of fact tone that left Jack smiling.
Dylan sat on the bed, still nude. "Tanta focus on their owner, and their trainer when they have one." It gave a pointed look to Jack.
Jack gave Ianto a warm smile, then turned all his attention to Notlar. "Do Tanta treat a trainer differently than an owner?"
Dylan smiled. "That depends on the owner and the trainer, and what they want. Tanta adapt to those desires."
"Let me get this straight," Ianto interrupted. "If your owner wanted a sex toy, you'd be that. If he wanted a pet, you'd be that. If he wanted a footstool or a personal groomer, that's what you'd become, right?"
"Exactly." Dylan nodded. "Although footstool would get boring very quickly."
"The point is that you adapt." Dylan nodded its agreement with Ianto's statement. "And if what your owner or trainer wants changes?"
"Then I change." Dylan stated quietly.
"Do you have any desires of your own, Notlar?" Jack asked, knowing Ianto needed this answer as much as Notlar needed to voice it.
Notlar dropped its eyes. "I want to belong." Its voice was soft. "And by that I mean that I want to be owned, commanded, live by someone else's rules." It looked up at Jack. "It's nice to be valued, and better to be loved and cared for. But for me, the safety of being keyed is what I want most of all."
Jack nodded, then turned to Ianto, offering his hand. "I love you, Ianto Jones."
Ianto gave him that beautiful, soft, warm smile that always melted his heart. "I know, Jack. And I know this won't change your love for me, or mine for you. Go on." He took Jack's hand and gave it a small squeeze of encouragement.
Jack returned the squeeze. "You had some idea or insight upstairs, earlier. Want to share?"
Ianto nodded. "You need to key Notlar to you. And you want to do more of what we did last night, without leaving it out. So do what you need to. Then give me the handle to Notlar's collar."
"Oh, brilliant!" Jack rolled forward so he could kiss Ianto. "You're a genius, Ianto."
Ianto just smiled. "Now you get to explain to Notlar why that wasn't all about sex."
That brought Jack's attention back to Dylan. The alien was waiting quietly, looking a little confused. Jack turned and settled against Ianto's side, offering his hand to the redhead. Dylan came to settle against his other side. Jack slid an arm around him.
"Well, the collar as a kinky sex toy is overkill, really." Jack started, while they got comfortable. "If you wanted to include Notlar in scenes like last night, you'd just have to ask it. Right, Notlar?"
"I'd play any role you'd like, Ianto sir." Dylan answered.
"That was the conclusion I'd come to all on my own." Ianto said dryly.
"But Ianto knows me. Once I key you to me, Notlar, I'm going to be the owner you need. I'm going to be thinking about your needs and your well being all the time, no matter what else I'm doing." Jack squeezed Ianto's hand again. Of course he'd kept it.
Ianto kissed Jack's hair - all he could reach with Jack leaning against him. "He does it to all his people, Notlar. All his team."
"Not to this degree, though. I trust the team to mostly deal with their own needs." Jack rubbed Dylan's side. "But if Ianto's your trainer, I know he'll cover for me if I need to turn my attention elsewhere."
"Which I'd do anyway, " Ianto commented.
Jack turned enough to look at him. "I thought I was doing the explaining." Ianto smiled and spread his free hand in invitation. Jack turned back to the alien. "Which he'd do anyway, but this way you will be absolutely sure who to turn to when I'm not available. And Ianto will be absolutely sure of you, too, if he needs to be."
"It completes a triangle." Dylan nodded. "I've never had an owner and a trainer who were as in love as you are, sirs. It promises to be an interesting experience."
Which, Jack thought, was putting it mildly.
"So when is the only remaining question?" Ianto asked.
Jack nodded. "Now, or wait for the team to monitor?"
"Now." Ianto decided. "Or we'll dissect the dangers for the next week."
Jack turned to Dylan. "The fast key requires a syringe and a cup. I'm willing to bet you have both on hand, don't you?" Dylan just nodded and slid off the bed.
While Dylan crossed to the wardrobe and took a small bundle out of a drawer, Jack turned his face up to Ianto again. "Kiss me, Ianto Jones."
Ianto did. Slowly. Deeply. The younger man took charge of the kiss right away, and Jack was more than happy to let him. He didn't even open his eyes again until Ianto pulled back.
Dylan knelt beside the bed, watching them. Laid out in front of him on a silk handkerchief older than Ianto were a dainty china teacup, an ordinary syringe still in its sterile packaging, and a newly honed straight razor.
Ianto reached past Jack and picked up the syringe. "This is going to sting a little, Jack. Want the restraints?"
"I thought this wasn't about sex." Jack took up the straight razor, giving Ianto his best lecherous grin along with his right arm.
"I said it wasn't all about sex." Ianto looked over to the still kneeling alien to find it holding out an alcohol pad. "How much blood will this take?"
"Two or three cc's in the syringe, a swallow in the cup."
Ianto very deftly and professionally prepped Jack's arm for the needle. Jack gave his attention to Dylan. "Do you have any input into your new base form?"
Notlar sat back on its heels, obviously nervous, but trying to relax. "Not really, sir, but you do. My base form will mirror your species, but the details are a different matter. What would please you?"
Jack gave that question the thought it deserved, trying to take the future into account as well as Ianto's sensibilities and those of his current team. For himself, he loved variety. Notlar would certainly always be able to provide that, no matter what its base form was. So the form needed to be something that would blend in here on Earth, now and in the future. And not grick whatever team was around when he died, since Notlar might revert to base each time that happened. Really, though, he'd taken all that into consideration the very first night that Notlar had worn the collar. The answer hadn't changed.
Ianto waved the syringe in front of Jack's eyes, catching his attention with the deep red sparkle. Jack gave Ianto a reassuring smile and turned back to the patiently waiting alien. "What you're wearing now looks good to me. Keep it."
"Although you might consider clothing," Ianto added dryly. "Especially since he finds skin so distracting."
Notlar gave Ianto a grin. "Then there are the social taboos to take into account. May I add clothing, sir?"
Jack sat forward a little. "Can you?"
Dylan just shrugged and closed his eyes a moment. Clear goo oozed out of his skin and solidified as a gray coverall and boots, very nondescript. Jack took it in for a moment, and couldn't think of any objections. Bless Ianto again for his foresight.
"Perfect." Jack flipped the straight razor open. "Let's do this."
Dylan held the cup. Jack cut across his left wrist, just deep enough to get blood flowing freely. Ianto took the razor from him and replaced it with a gauze pad. They all watched silently as Jack's blood drained into the teacup. The alien nodded when enough had accumulated for their purposes. Jack put pressure on the wound, feeling it already starting to heal.
Dylan turned to Ianto. "The abdomen would be fine, Ianto sir. The injection should be first."
Ianto just nodded and crouched. The needle went through the coverall and deep into the shapeshifter's flesh with little resistance. It didn't even flinch. Jack's attention fastened on Dylan's face while Ianto pushed the plunger slowly home. The alien took one deep breath and then another. Its eyes met Jack's and locked there while it brought the cup to its lips and drank. Ianto took the empty cup and syringe with him when he stood.
Nothing happened for a long moment. Then Dylan closed its eyes and breathed deeply, body slumping a little as it relaxed. A couple of violent shudders twitched through it, then it shivered for another long moment. Its eyes opened again as it relaxed. The new sparkle in them and the contentment so evident on the young man's features told Jack he'd made the right decision.
Dylan offered its hand to Jack. "Touch completes the bond, boss."
"Jack," he corrected again, taking the offered hand in his own. The moment their skin met, Jack felt a tingle of energy race up his arm. The energy exploded in his mind, flooding it with warmth and a sense of home he hadn't felt in ages. It took a moment to realize that the feeling wasn't his own. A little piece of Notlar had taken up residence within his mind. It tucked itself neatly to the side and waited, a passive passenger. Weird, but Jack had dealt with more uncomfortable symbiots. He thought it was probably best not to tell the team, though.
"Jack?" The concern in Ianto's voice drew Jack's attention out of himself again.
Jack turned to his lover and gave him a triumphant grin. "Done. Now it's your turn. Give me your arm."
"Not the body part you're usually interested in, but I live to cater to your kinks." Ianto held out his left arm to Jack.
"Arms can be incredibly sexy. I once had a partner who concentrated just on my right arm, and did it so well I came just from that." Jack removed the sock covering the bracelet that was actually half of an alien leash. "Then she moved on to my left arm. What a weekend."
"You must have been tied up at the time," Ianto returned the banter while a still grinning Jack transferred the thick bracelet to his arm. "Dylan, will we need to go over the rules again?"
Dylan nodded. "They were Trainer Jack's rules. They'll need to be yours, now."
"Jack can override my rules, of course." Ianto said, sliding the bracelet up his arm to see how far it would go.
"Not that I will, since they're my rules too." Jack put in, wondering what Ianto was up to. He settled on his side on the bed to watch the show.
"Priorities can change." Ianto turned to Notlar, giving the still kneeling alien his full attention. "So the first rule was about confinement, which I don't think is strictly necessary anymore. My rule is simpler: don't go wandering off without telling Jack or I where you're going."
The grin that lit Dylan's face was priceless. "Thank you sir."
Jack nodded. "I was thinking something along the same lines myself."
"For the rest," Ianto continued, pointedly ignoring Jack's commentary, "you are not allowed to harm the members of the Team, both those you've already been introduced to and any new members Jack or I introduce you to, unless you need to to save them from something worse. I doubt we'll have any trouble getting you to answer questions, but the rule about answering team completely and truthfully stands. Just tell us if the answer is going to be long. And you still must never discuss Torchwood or aliens without Jack's specific permission. Mine doesn't count." When Dylan nodded, he went on. "I don't think I really need to tell you that killing someone without Jack's permission is likely to upset him, and I won't bother with any rules about that." Again a nod from the alien, and Ianto went on. "To cover conflicts in orders, I want you to use your best judgement. I'll give you clarification if you ask."
"Thank you for that, sir." Dylan said quietly.
"Two more rules," Ianto said before anyone could move. Then he waited until he was sure he had everyone's attention. "Anytime I take up the role of Jack's Dom, I expect you to automatically submit, as well. I'm glad you're a cuddly alien, but it's incredibly distracting."
"Yes sir," Dylan said, smiling. "Good to have that covered. And your last rule?"
"Stop calling me sir."
Dylan grinned. "Of course, Trainer Ianto."
And Ianto's exasperated sigh was enough to set Jack off in a spate of much needed laughter. It was good to have things settled, finally.
Epilogue
Jack slid the enormous omelet onto a platter, added two forks, and turned from the kitchenette to the big bed. He smiled at Dylan and Ianto, deep into another of those blissful kisses. Good. Ianto was awake, finally. He rounded the bed to the side nearest Ianto while the two of them propped themselves up against the headboard.
"Good morning, sleepyhead. Hungry?" Jack asked Ianto after stealing a quick kiss. He slid into bed.
"Ravenous," Ianto answered. "Ah, breakfast in bed. Could get used to this."
Dylan grabbed the other fork and dug in while Ianto was still considering a plan of attack.
“Don’t I get some? I cooked.” Jack pouted, but it didn’t last long. Dylan shared the next forkful with him.
“Is the team in yet?” Ianto asked while building a careful forkful of omelet.
Dylan cocked his head to the side for a moment, then nodded. “Sounds routine.”
“Good, then.” The food disappeared in silence for a while, Jack getting bites from each of them now and then and feeling more relaxed than he had in a long time. And more rested.
Ianto sat back from the platter and studied Jack for a bit, intensely enough that it made him want to squirm. “What?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so content.” He glanced at Notlar. “Both of you.”
Notlar shrugged. “You sirs stayed the night.”
Ianto patted his knee, but kept watching Jack. He wouldn’t force the admission, but still Jack knew what he wanted. “Thank you, Ianto.”
“You liked it, then?” Ianto cupped Jack’s face, a fingertip toying with his earlobe.
“Loved it, hated it, all good.” Jack grinned and turned to kiss Ianto’s palm, breathe in his scent. “Never thought I could stand still that long, actually.”
“Well, you did twitch.” Ianto Jones was teasing. Imagine that.
“You were flogging his balls, though.” And Notlar had joined in.
“That vibrator made it all seem huge. Where did you find that thing?” Jack shifted closer, slid an arm around Ianto.
Ianto shrugged. “Online.”
Notlar sighed. “I suppose we should clean up and get to work. I hear the boss isn’t fond of layabouts.”
“I thought you’d penciled in time for breakfast in bed.” Jack snuggled into Ianto, and with the food gone, so did Dylan on his other side.
Ianto grinned with that glint in his eyes. “Actually, I scheduled your whole day free, Jack.”
And what could he say to that except, “Thank you sir. Can I have another?”
END
Author: dwolf34
Rating: R. m/m/alien sex. Really. Sorry, I meant finally.
Characters/Pairings: Torchwood team, Notlar (original character), Jack/Ianto/Notlar
Disclaimer: Torchwood and its characters don't belong to me; nice folks at the BBC got to them first. Just borrowing, no profit, everyone goes home unharmed.
Spoilers: Maybe some for TW season one and two, somewhere. Assumes Kiss Kiss Bang Bang occured, but has gone all AU from there.
Two and a half years later, and I can't believe I didn't get this up. So sorry for how long this has taken to finish and post, but here it finally is, after so many personal heartbreaks (and bone breaks) life changes. Many thanks to coffeegirl18 for the beta job, loads of support and squees, and putting up with my silly emails and occasional soapbox swaps. I still claim all strange uses of punctuation as my own, even though she tried to set me straight. Remaining misspellings are entirely the fault of my spell checker. Me taking a leap into posting something that I'm still working on is all about skellerbvvt poking me and sanginmychains for so politely asking for an update. And don't forget the donuts and chocolate. Mmmm.
Summary: Follows "The Things Jack Does", and "Not Sleeping" and is a continuation of the storyline. Gwen and Rhys need rescuing, and decisions need to be made about Notlar.
"Part 1 Here"
"Part 2 Here"
"Part 3 Here"
"Part 4 Here"
Fragments returned first. The tickle of incredibly soft fur against his cheek. The sting of some small wound at his shoulder. The hot smell of recent sex. The gentle wet sound of a slow kiss. A strong arm tucked around him. They were good, safe, warm fragments, and so Jack gathered them up and spent a few moments simply cherishing them. The rest of the world could trickle in slowly. Maybe it would take its time, for once.
Notlar's voice with it's Drisillian rumble echoed in the chest that was Jack's pillow. It murmured something sweet to it's kissing partner. Then warm lips were on his, and the taste and feel of Ianto filled his mouth. Jack gave the kiss his full attention until Ianto pulled back, gasping for air. Jack opened his eyes to the sunny sight of Ianto's grin, then moved and turned enough to kiss Notlar. There was no way he was leaving either of the partners who were the cause of his totally satisfied, lazy, warm current state out of anything. Especially kisses.
"That was intense," Ianto remarked quietly, sounding far too calm and collected.
Jack finished the kiss before turning to Ianto. "I agree. Learn anything?"
Ianto was drawing patterns in Notlar's chest fur with one finger. "Everything I'd hoped to." He caressed Jack's cheek, then returned to that soft fur. "I can do this."
Relief washed through Jack. "You really are a marvel. And you don't know how much your support means, Ianto Jones." He kissed his young lover again in sheer appreciation.
"I have an idea," Ianto said, just a little breathlessly. He turned to Notlar, who'd been quiet and still. "Fur is too distracting, Notlar. Give us Dylan, please."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Dylan's not distracting?" He rolled reluctantly away from Notlar, giving the alien room to move. He couldn't stop himself from stealing one more caress of that soft fur and firm flesh.
Ianto grinned. "Well, not as distracting. Do we need clothing to keep you focused on something other than sex, Jack?"
Jack gave the question some mock serious thought, but Notlar beat him to the punchline. "I'm not really sure clothing would help." It had made its way off the bed, and its form was already blurring again, shrinking.
Jack tried for an indignant look. "What's wrong with focusing on sex?" But he was moving, sitting up, and Ianto followed his lead.
"Nothing's wrong with focusing on sex, while we're having it." Ianto gave it a matter of fact tone that left Jack smiling.
Dylan sat on the bed, still nude. "Tanta focus on their owner, and their trainer when they have one." It gave a pointed look to Jack.
Jack gave Ianto a warm smile, then turned all his attention to Notlar. "Do Tanta treat a trainer differently than an owner?"
Dylan smiled. "That depends on the owner and the trainer, and what they want. Tanta adapt to those desires."
"Let me get this straight," Ianto interrupted. "If your owner wanted a sex toy, you'd be that. If he wanted a pet, you'd be that. If he wanted a footstool or a personal groomer, that's what you'd become, right?"
"Exactly." Dylan nodded. "Although footstool would get boring very quickly."
"The point is that you adapt." Dylan nodded its agreement with Ianto's statement. "And if what your owner or trainer wants changes?"
"Then I change." Dylan stated quietly.
"Do you have any desires of your own, Notlar?" Jack asked, knowing Ianto needed this answer as much as Notlar needed to voice it.
Notlar dropped its eyes. "I want to belong." Its voice was soft. "And by that I mean that I want to be owned, commanded, live by someone else's rules." It looked up at Jack. "It's nice to be valued, and better to be loved and cared for. But for me, the safety of being keyed is what I want most of all."
Jack nodded, then turned to Ianto, offering his hand. "I love you, Ianto Jones."
Ianto gave him that beautiful, soft, warm smile that always melted his heart. "I know, Jack. And I know this won't change your love for me, or mine for you. Go on." He took Jack's hand and gave it a small squeeze of encouragement.
Jack returned the squeeze. "You had some idea or insight upstairs, earlier. Want to share?"
Ianto nodded. "You need to key Notlar to you. And you want to do more of what we did last night, without leaving it out. So do what you need to. Then give me the handle to Notlar's collar."
"Oh, brilliant!" Jack rolled forward so he could kiss Ianto. "You're a genius, Ianto."
Ianto just smiled. "Now you get to explain to Notlar why that wasn't all about sex."
That brought Jack's attention back to Dylan. The alien was waiting quietly, looking a little confused. Jack turned and settled against Ianto's side, offering his hand to the redhead. Dylan came to settle against his other side. Jack slid an arm around him.
"Well, the collar as a kinky sex toy is overkill, really." Jack started, while they got comfortable. "If you wanted to include Notlar in scenes like last night, you'd just have to ask it. Right, Notlar?"
"I'd play any role you'd like, Ianto sir." Dylan answered.
"That was the conclusion I'd come to all on my own." Ianto said dryly.
"But Ianto knows me. Once I key you to me, Notlar, I'm going to be the owner you need. I'm going to be thinking about your needs and your well being all the time, no matter what else I'm doing." Jack squeezed Ianto's hand again. Of course he'd kept it.
Ianto kissed Jack's hair - all he could reach with Jack leaning against him. "He does it to all his people, Notlar. All his team."
"Not to this degree, though. I trust the team to mostly deal with their own needs." Jack rubbed Dylan's side. "But if Ianto's your trainer, I know he'll cover for me if I need to turn my attention elsewhere."
"Which I'd do anyway, " Ianto commented.
Jack turned enough to look at him. "I thought I was doing the explaining." Ianto smiled and spread his free hand in invitation. Jack turned back to the alien. "Which he'd do anyway, but this way you will be absolutely sure who to turn to when I'm not available. And Ianto will be absolutely sure of you, too, if he needs to be."
"It completes a triangle." Dylan nodded. "I've never had an owner and a trainer who were as in love as you are, sirs. It promises to be an interesting experience."
Which, Jack thought, was putting it mildly.
"So when is the only remaining question?" Ianto asked.
Jack nodded. "Now, or wait for the team to monitor?"
"Now." Ianto decided. "Or we'll dissect the dangers for the next week."
Jack turned to Dylan. "The fast key requires a syringe and a cup. I'm willing to bet you have both on hand, don't you?" Dylan just nodded and slid off the bed.
While Dylan crossed to the wardrobe and took a small bundle out of a drawer, Jack turned his face up to Ianto again. "Kiss me, Ianto Jones."
Ianto did. Slowly. Deeply. The younger man took charge of the kiss right away, and Jack was more than happy to let him. He didn't even open his eyes again until Ianto pulled back.
Dylan knelt beside the bed, watching them. Laid out in front of him on a silk handkerchief older than Ianto were a dainty china teacup, an ordinary syringe still in its sterile packaging, and a newly honed straight razor.
Ianto reached past Jack and picked up the syringe. "This is going to sting a little, Jack. Want the restraints?"
"I thought this wasn't about sex." Jack took up the straight razor, giving Ianto his best lecherous grin along with his right arm.
"I said it wasn't all about sex." Ianto looked over to the still kneeling alien to find it holding out an alcohol pad. "How much blood will this take?"
"Two or three cc's in the syringe, a swallow in the cup."
Ianto very deftly and professionally prepped Jack's arm for the needle. Jack gave his attention to Dylan. "Do you have any input into your new base form?"
Notlar sat back on its heels, obviously nervous, but trying to relax. "Not really, sir, but you do. My base form will mirror your species, but the details are a different matter. What would please you?"
Jack gave that question the thought it deserved, trying to take the future into account as well as Ianto's sensibilities and those of his current team. For himself, he loved variety. Notlar would certainly always be able to provide that, no matter what its base form was. So the form needed to be something that would blend in here on Earth, now and in the future. And not grick whatever team was around when he died, since Notlar might revert to base each time that happened. Really, though, he'd taken all that into consideration the very first night that Notlar had worn the collar. The answer hadn't changed.
Ianto waved the syringe in front of Jack's eyes, catching his attention with the deep red sparkle. Jack gave Ianto a reassuring smile and turned back to the patiently waiting alien. "What you're wearing now looks good to me. Keep it."
"Although you might consider clothing," Ianto added dryly. "Especially since he finds skin so distracting."
Notlar gave Ianto a grin. "Then there are the social taboos to take into account. May I add clothing, sir?"
Jack sat forward a little. "Can you?"
Dylan just shrugged and closed his eyes a moment. Clear goo oozed out of his skin and solidified as a gray coverall and boots, very nondescript. Jack took it in for a moment, and couldn't think of any objections. Bless Ianto again for his foresight.
"Perfect." Jack flipped the straight razor open. "Let's do this."
Dylan held the cup. Jack cut across his left wrist, just deep enough to get blood flowing freely. Ianto took the razor from him and replaced it with a gauze pad. They all watched silently as Jack's blood drained into the teacup. The alien nodded when enough had accumulated for their purposes. Jack put pressure on the wound, feeling it already starting to heal.
Dylan turned to Ianto. "The abdomen would be fine, Ianto sir. The injection should be first."
Ianto just nodded and crouched. The needle went through the coverall and deep into the shapeshifter's flesh with little resistance. It didn't even flinch. Jack's attention fastened on Dylan's face while Ianto pushed the plunger slowly home. The alien took one deep breath and then another. Its eyes met Jack's and locked there while it brought the cup to its lips and drank. Ianto took the empty cup and syringe with him when he stood.
Nothing happened for a long moment. Then Dylan closed its eyes and breathed deeply, body slumping a little as it relaxed. A couple of violent shudders twitched through it, then it shivered for another long moment. Its eyes opened again as it relaxed. The new sparkle in them and the contentment so evident on the young man's features told Jack he'd made the right decision.
Dylan offered its hand to Jack. "Touch completes the bond, boss."
"Jack," he corrected again, taking the offered hand in his own. The moment their skin met, Jack felt a tingle of energy race up his arm. The energy exploded in his mind, flooding it with warmth and a sense of home he hadn't felt in ages. It took a moment to realize that the feeling wasn't his own. A little piece of Notlar had taken up residence within his mind. It tucked itself neatly to the side and waited, a passive passenger. Weird, but Jack had dealt with more uncomfortable symbiots. He thought it was probably best not to tell the team, though.
"Jack?" The concern in Ianto's voice drew Jack's attention out of himself again.
Jack turned to his lover and gave him a triumphant grin. "Done. Now it's your turn. Give me your arm."
"Not the body part you're usually interested in, but I live to cater to your kinks." Ianto held out his left arm to Jack.
"Arms can be incredibly sexy. I once had a partner who concentrated just on my right arm, and did it so well I came just from that." Jack removed the sock covering the bracelet that was actually half of an alien leash. "Then she moved on to my left arm. What a weekend."
"You must have been tied up at the time," Ianto returned the banter while a still grinning Jack transferred the thick bracelet to his arm. "Dylan, will we need to go over the rules again?"
Dylan nodded. "They were Trainer Jack's rules. They'll need to be yours, now."
"Jack can override my rules, of course." Ianto said, sliding the bracelet up his arm to see how far it would go.
"Not that I will, since they're my rules too." Jack put in, wondering what Ianto was up to. He settled on his side on the bed to watch the show.
"Priorities can change." Ianto turned to Notlar, giving the still kneeling alien his full attention. "So the first rule was about confinement, which I don't think is strictly necessary anymore. My rule is simpler: don't go wandering off without telling Jack or I where you're going."
The grin that lit Dylan's face was priceless. "Thank you sir."
Jack nodded. "I was thinking something along the same lines myself."
"For the rest," Ianto continued, pointedly ignoring Jack's commentary, "you are not allowed to harm the members of the Team, both those you've already been introduced to and any new members Jack or I introduce you to, unless you need to to save them from something worse. I doubt we'll have any trouble getting you to answer questions, but the rule about answering team completely and truthfully stands. Just tell us if the answer is going to be long. And you still must never discuss Torchwood or aliens without Jack's specific permission. Mine doesn't count." When Dylan nodded, he went on. "I don't think I really need to tell you that killing someone without Jack's permission is likely to upset him, and I won't bother with any rules about that." Again a nod from the alien, and Ianto went on. "To cover conflicts in orders, I want you to use your best judgement. I'll give you clarification if you ask."
"Thank you for that, sir." Dylan said quietly.
"Two more rules," Ianto said before anyone could move. Then he waited until he was sure he had everyone's attention. "Anytime I take up the role of Jack's Dom, I expect you to automatically submit, as well. I'm glad you're a cuddly alien, but it's incredibly distracting."
"Yes sir," Dylan said, smiling. "Good to have that covered. And your last rule?"
"Stop calling me sir."
Dylan grinned. "Of course, Trainer Ianto."
And Ianto's exasperated sigh was enough to set Jack off in a spate of much needed laughter. It was good to have things settled, finally.
Epilogue
Jack slid the enormous omelet onto a platter, added two forks, and turned from the kitchenette to the big bed. He smiled at Dylan and Ianto, deep into another of those blissful kisses. Good. Ianto was awake, finally. He rounded the bed to the side nearest Ianto while the two of them propped themselves up against the headboard.
"Good morning, sleepyhead. Hungry?" Jack asked Ianto after stealing a quick kiss. He slid into bed.
"Ravenous," Ianto answered. "Ah, breakfast in bed. Could get used to this."
Dylan grabbed the other fork and dug in while Ianto was still considering a plan of attack.
“Don’t I get some? I cooked.” Jack pouted, but it didn’t last long. Dylan shared the next forkful with him.
“Is the team in yet?” Ianto asked while building a careful forkful of omelet.
Dylan cocked his head to the side for a moment, then nodded. “Sounds routine.”
“Good, then.” The food disappeared in silence for a while, Jack getting bites from each of them now and then and feeling more relaxed than he had in a long time. And more rested.
Ianto sat back from the platter and studied Jack for a bit, intensely enough that it made him want to squirm. “What?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so content.” He glanced at Notlar. “Both of you.”
Notlar shrugged. “You sirs stayed the night.”
Ianto patted his knee, but kept watching Jack. He wouldn’t force the admission, but still Jack knew what he wanted. “Thank you, Ianto.”
“You liked it, then?” Ianto cupped Jack’s face, a fingertip toying with his earlobe.
“Loved it, hated it, all good.” Jack grinned and turned to kiss Ianto’s palm, breathe in his scent. “Never thought I could stand still that long, actually.”
“Well, you did twitch.” Ianto Jones was teasing. Imagine that.
“You were flogging his balls, though.” And Notlar had joined in.
“That vibrator made it all seem huge. Where did you find that thing?” Jack shifted closer, slid an arm around Ianto.
Ianto shrugged. “Online.”
Notlar sighed. “I suppose we should clean up and get to work. I hear the boss isn’t fond of layabouts.”
“I thought you’d penciled in time for breakfast in bed.” Jack snuggled into Ianto, and with the food gone, so did Dylan on his other side.
Ianto grinned with that glint in his eyes. “Actually, I scheduled your whole day free, Jack.”
And what could he say to that except, “Thank you sir. Can I have another?”
END