Syringa
Title: Syringa (1/1)
Series: Something that starts with "S", part nine
Characters: Jack & Ianto + Martha & OFC
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Jack & Ianto have an unique take on flower arranging.
A/N: for horizonssing day 19.
If Martha had been a behavioral psychologist, she could probably make a small fortune studying the fine art of avoidance currently playing out at Torchwood Three. It wasn't that the three other members of the team weren't talking, if anything they were talking more than ever, it was just they weren't saying what needed to be said. This was way beyond a dead elephant- it was more like a dead blue whale filling all of the quiet between words in the hub.
Ianto and Gwen were resolutely not discussing how either of them felt after the whole Ianto-nearly-shooting-Gwen incident but apparently some unspoken truce was made. Gwen tried not to talk down to Ianto or dismiss him out-of-hand and in return Ianto tried not to be overly protective of what he had with Jack. Admittedly, the pheromone blocker that Martha and the mainframe developed was helping Ianto keep a level head most of the time, but everyone had learned the signs of it wearing off. Ironically, it was Gwen who discovered that the earliest tell wasn't Ianto's all-too-obvious erection, or his sudden need to touch Jack, but that he'd suddenly gaze off into oblivion. As Gwen pointed out, anyone else could be excused for daydreaming, but in nearly three years, she'd never seen Ianto Jones lose focus. The shots worked well to block the effects of Jack's pheromones and usually he only needed one shot per day, but when he was in a confined space with Jack for long periods of time, or Jack exerted himself (usually in a confined space) the increased concentration would sometimes overwhelm the blocker, and after a rousing bout of sex, Jack would give Ianto another shot.
Things were slow around the hub, other than an apparent increase in weevil activity. Martha was upset that her newer formulation of weevil spray was already ineffective and they were all saddened when it became evident that they could no longer safely capture and contain the rogue weevils. While they continued to care for their existing weevil population (well, Gwen did much to her continued disgust) they were forced to terminate any weevil that attacked civilians or couldn't be herded back into the sewers. Gwen was still unable to actually kill a weevil, and Ianto forbade Jack to go on weevil hunts in his condition for fear that if something happened Ianto would loose control again; so it fell to Ianto and Martha. As a doctor, sworn to save lives, Martha tried but in the end it was really Ianto dispatching the bulk of the rogue weevil population with either his incredibly accurate head shots, or fast acting phenobarbital high velocity darts. Gwen, Martha and Ianto had formed a game plan for testing the weevils which involved the girls trying to intimidate the weevil back into the sewers, and only when this failed did Ianto euthanize. It was working, at least half of them retreated, but the remainder quietly ended up in the Torchwood incinerator.
After a particularly bad night when they'd been forced to terminate no less than eight weevils, the entire team was shattered. Gwen finally gave up around noon and went home to get some sleep while the rest remained in the hub. Jack and Ianto were in Jack's office (with the door open to keep the air volume up) looking at property listings when Martha's phone rang. "Hey Tish." Martha's younger sister was talking nineteen to the dozen and Martha could hardly keep up. "Tish, slow down. What are you on about?" When Martha finally sussed out what her sister was saying, both Jack and Ianto were looking at her with quizzical expressions. Martha cut her sister off abruptly, "whatever Tish, just email it to me and I look at it, okay? Ta!"
"So, what has the fair Tish in such a dither Martha?" Jack was grinning at her. Jack had a soft spot for Tish since she'd been the only comfort he had during his year locked in the bowels of the Valiant. Martha gave Jack a clinical look and could see the changes in his physique- He was still handsome and fit, but there was a softening of his features and his movements were more fluid, less forceful. As he'd pointed out, male pregnancy was designed to keep the men working for as long as possible, but the accelerated gestation meant he was only four months from delivery. She pulled herself back to the conversation and said, "she's decided to obsess over the wedding bouquet- says she found the perfect one so she's emailing a picture- yep, here it is." Martha opened the email and looked at the picture with both Jack and Ianto peering over her shoulders. "Well, its nice enough I guess. I wasn't planning on a pink wedding."
"The sentiment is appropriate though." Ianto said quietly, "grace, trust and a happy marriage. You could do worse." Ianto smiled at her and went to make coffee.
Martha frowned. Ianto's encyclopedic brain threw her sometimes, but this time Jack clarified for her, "old Victorian language of flowers. Little favours that allowed men to express their feelings to a woman without saying anything. No one really believes in it anymore, but just to be safe, I'd avoid marigolds if I was you." Jack patted her on the shoulder and walked back to his office. Martha mentally noted to look up this flower business later. She smiled as Ianto sat her cappuccino with chocolate sprinkles down.
"Why don't you go home and get some rest as well Martha. If anything comes up I'll page you. Doesn't Tom get off early today?" Ianto looked at Martha with a sad smile, he tried so hard to pickup as much work as he could so she'd have time with Tom, his short days were like a gift and Ianto always seemed to get her out the door as early as possible on those days. Martha stood up and kissed him on the cheek before grabbing her bag and hugging him in thanks. She knew he'd only call if there was something really serious. "Have a good night Martha." And Ianto left for Jack's office.
Jack smiled at Ianto has he carried in the coffees- cut down to three cups a day made Jack enjoy every cup of hot rich caffeine that much more- as he saw Martha exiting through the blast door with her jacket and bag. "New record there Mister Jones? Did you use the stun gun, or did you withhold caffeine?" Jack was deeply inhaling the rich coffee smell and letting it warm his hands before taking the first restorative sip.
"Its Tom's short day, gives them a full evening once a week. Besides, things are slow." Ianto sat on the edge of Jack's desk and placed his hand on Jack's cheek, "you look tired, why don't you go down and rest for a while. I'll finish up today's rounds then we can go back to the flat." Ianto had almost said 'home' but wanted to save that for whatever Jack found. "I shouldn't be more than 15 minutes." Ianto leaned over and gave Jack a soft kiss before pulling away to finish his daily chores. Jack leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes and smiling. He was tired, but if things went according to plan, it would be several hours before either of them slept.
---
"Jack, I don't care if the property is a great deal. I will not move to Splott." Ianto was pulling his mail from his post box while Jack continued to go on about the perfect house, except for being in Splott. Ianto noticed his neighbor, and smiled. "Hello Mrs. Gregory, sorry to be so loud." Ianto always tried to be polite to the old lady. She and her husband had converted the three story row house into two properties. While he had the top floor and roof, she had the first and second floors plus the gardens, and the freehold. She reminded him of his aunt, always working in the garden and smelling of carbolic. Mrs. Gregory walked over to the postal boxes where Jack and Ianto were still standing, Ianto slapping Jack's hand as it wandered a bit too much.
"You aren't thinking of moving now Ianto, are you? I thought you liked that flat up there. I know we didn't spend a lot when we made up the kitchen, but after the work you two did on the roof garden, well I thought you were going to be staying a while." Mrs. Gregory was rather fond of Ianto, and his handsome friend; oh she knew what the church said, but she remembers what Ianto was like when he first moved in, all quiet and alone, but since the first time she'd met this Jack Harkness, she decided if they were happy, well- what did it matter.
"Oh, I'm not planning to sell the flat ma'am, its just we," Ianto stammered trying to think of a good white lie.
"Ianto and I are going to adopt a child after our civil partnership. And though we love his flat, we need another room." Jack smiled at the elderly lady, and held tight to Ianto's hand. "But at the rate we're going, we may be crushed into his flat after all."
Mrs. Gregory smiled at them, "well, that's a relief. It wouldn't have done either of us any good if both properties were on the market."
Jack's eyes perked, "why Mrs. Gregory, are you going to sell?" Jack peered at Ianto with a broad grin. "Because if you are, I think we'd be very interested in buying. We could negotiate our own sale and save on agent fees. I'm more than happy to pay fair market value and we'd both come out ahead."
"Mr. Harkness, I believe you may have a deal. I'm planning to move in with my daughter, don't need this big old place for just me. And if you take care of this as well as you've done with that little flat, I can't think of a better purchaser. I'll tell my daughter to start collecting the paperwork from the clerk's office." She smiled at Jack and Ianto then patted Ianto's hand, "you keep a close eye on that one Ianto, he's a charmer." Before she went back into the house.
Jack and Ianto exchanged looks. Jack was smiling at the thought of having the perfect home and Ianto was remembering Branwen's words again. His flat would be her home, he could already imagine her moving up there to get away from the folks- but still close enough to come home for dinner. "Well, that's sorted. How about we get in and celebrate?" Jack squeezed Ianto's hand and dragged him up to the flat.
---
They were laying in bed, cooling down after another collision of their mutual addiction to each other's bodies. Ianto was stretched out, one hand under his head and the other lazily carding through Jack's hair. Jack was curled around Ianto, his head resting on Ianto's chest as his fingers made swirling patterns in the thick thatch of chest hair. "I didn't know you knew about flowers Ianto." Jack spoke against his chest, his breath causing goosebumps to rise and the hairs to stand to attention. "Its a little obscure even for you."
Ianto just smiled and ran a lazy finger over Jack's lips, "read a book about it - found it sitting in mam's room in hospital one time. It was something to pass the time." Ianto didn't often think about the times his mother was strapped to a hospital bed being pumped full of cocktails to try stopping whatever delusion was overrunning her. "Of course, my experience is purely academic- you lived through it. I imagine you made effective use of tussy mussies with devastating results." Ianto leaned down and kissed Jack.
"It was the Victorian era Ianto, it was a whole lot of innuendo and not a lot of action- at least not with women that you'd give a nosegay to, and not many men were interested in flowers." Jack swiped his tongue of the nearby nipple. "So Mister Jones, what flowers would you put in a wedding bouquet for us?" Jack slowly teased the nipple until it was small and hard.
Ianto caught his breath and gave it some thought. "We'd need yarrow. Most definitely." Jack's tongue slowly swirled down Ianto's treasure trail, dipping into his navel and pressing in and out. "Maybe, maybe coral rose too." Jack nipped his hip and dragged his nails down towards his thighs.
"What else?" Jack swirled his tongue around the tip of Ianto's cock, collecting a small bead of precum.
"Ginger, oh god do that again, and fir. Lots of fir." Jack started slowly working Ianto's erection down his throat. Jack pulled back off and looked at Ianto with a raised eyebrow. Ianto rolled his eyes and said, "red roses twpsyn, a bloody dozen of them!" Jack grinned and began moving Ianto closer and closer to the edge. Ianto was gasping, but he knew Jack wouldn't let him come until he gave the last flower. When Jack's teeth slowly grazed the large vein on the underside of his penis, Ianto shouted, "Lilac! Duw! Lilac because I never want to forget this!" The orgasm ripped from Ianto causing his back to arch and his fingers to lock in Jack's hair and his toes to curl. Jack worked him slowly down from his frenzy, cleaning and smiling to himself as Ianto started to lightly snore.
Jack pulled himself up next to Ianto who leaned back into Jack as he slept. "Don't forget the prince's feather Ianto, that's the important one."
The story continues in Sacrilege
Series: Something that starts with "S", part nine
Characters: Jack & Ianto + Martha & OFC
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Jack & Ianto have an unique take on flower arranging.
A/N: for horizonssing day 19.
If Martha had been a behavioral psychologist, she could probably make a small fortune studying the fine art of avoidance currently playing out at Torchwood Three. It wasn't that the three other members of the team weren't talking, if anything they were talking more than ever, it was just they weren't saying what needed to be said. This was way beyond a dead elephant- it was more like a dead blue whale filling all of the quiet between words in the hub.
Ianto and Gwen were resolutely not discussing how either of them felt after the whole Ianto-nearly-shooting-Gwen incident but apparently some unspoken truce was made. Gwen tried not to talk down to Ianto or dismiss him out-of-hand and in return Ianto tried not to be overly protective of what he had with Jack. Admittedly, the pheromone blocker that Martha and the mainframe developed was helping Ianto keep a level head most of the time, but everyone had learned the signs of it wearing off. Ironically, it was Gwen who discovered that the earliest tell wasn't Ianto's all-too-obvious erection, or his sudden need to touch Jack, but that he'd suddenly gaze off into oblivion. As Gwen pointed out, anyone else could be excused for daydreaming, but in nearly three years, she'd never seen Ianto Jones lose focus. The shots worked well to block the effects of Jack's pheromones and usually he only needed one shot per day, but when he was in a confined space with Jack for long periods of time, or Jack exerted himself (usually in a confined space) the increased concentration would sometimes overwhelm the blocker, and after a rousing bout of sex, Jack would give Ianto another shot.
Things were slow around the hub, other than an apparent increase in weevil activity. Martha was upset that her newer formulation of weevil spray was already ineffective and they were all saddened when it became evident that they could no longer safely capture and contain the rogue weevils. While they continued to care for their existing weevil population (well, Gwen did much to her continued disgust) they were forced to terminate any weevil that attacked civilians or couldn't be herded back into the sewers. Gwen was still unable to actually kill a weevil, and Ianto forbade Jack to go on weevil hunts in his condition for fear that if something happened Ianto would loose control again; so it fell to Ianto and Martha. As a doctor, sworn to save lives, Martha tried but in the end it was really Ianto dispatching the bulk of the rogue weevil population with either his incredibly accurate head shots, or fast acting phenobarbital high velocity darts. Gwen, Martha and Ianto had formed a game plan for testing the weevils which involved the girls trying to intimidate the weevil back into the sewers, and only when this failed did Ianto euthanize. It was working, at least half of them retreated, but the remainder quietly ended up in the Torchwood incinerator.
After a particularly bad night when they'd been forced to terminate no less than eight weevils, the entire team was shattered. Gwen finally gave up around noon and went home to get some sleep while the rest remained in the hub. Jack and Ianto were in Jack's office (with the door open to keep the air volume up) looking at property listings when Martha's phone rang. "Hey Tish." Martha's younger sister was talking nineteen to the dozen and Martha could hardly keep up. "Tish, slow down. What are you on about?" When Martha finally sussed out what her sister was saying, both Jack and Ianto were looking at her with quizzical expressions. Martha cut her sister off abruptly, "whatever Tish, just email it to me and I look at it, okay? Ta!"
"So, what has the fair Tish in such a dither Martha?" Jack was grinning at her. Jack had a soft spot for Tish since she'd been the only comfort he had during his year locked in the bowels of the Valiant. Martha gave Jack a clinical look and could see the changes in his physique- He was still handsome and fit, but there was a softening of his features and his movements were more fluid, less forceful. As he'd pointed out, male pregnancy was designed to keep the men working for as long as possible, but the accelerated gestation meant he was only four months from delivery. She pulled herself back to the conversation and said, "she's decided to obsess over the wedding bouquet- says she found the perfect one so she's emailing a picture- yep, here it is." Martha opened the email and looked at the picture with both Jack and Ianto peering over her shoulders. "Well, its nice enough I guess. I wasn't planning on a pink wedding."
"The sentiment is appropriate though." Ianto said quietly, "grace, trust and a happy marriage. You could do worse." Ianto smiled at her and went to make coffee.
Martha frowned. Ianto's encyclopedic brain threw her sometimes, but this time Jack clarified for her, "old Victorian language of flowers. Little favours that allowed men to express their feelings to a woman without saying anything. No one really believes in it anymore, but just to be safe, I'd avoid marigolds if I was you." Jack patted her on the shoulder and walked back to his office. Martha mentally noted to look up this flower business later. She smiled as Ianto sat her cappuccino with chocolate sprinkles down.
"Why don't you go home and get some rest as well Martha. If anything comes up I'll page you. Doesn't Tom get off early today?" Ianto looked at Martha with a sad smile, he tried so hard to pickup as much work as he could so she'd have time with Tom, his short days were like a gift and Ianto always seemed to get her out the door as early as possible on those days. Martha stood up and kissed him on the cheek before grabbing her bag and hugging him in thanks. She knew he'd only call if there was something really serious. "Have a good night Martha." And Ianto left for Jack's office.
Jack smiled at Ianto has he carried in the coffees- cut down to three cups a day made Jack enjoy every cup of hot rich caffeine that much more- as he saw Martha exiting through the blast door with her jacket and bag. "New record there Mister Jones? Did you use the stun gun, or did you withhold caffeine?" Jack was deeply inhaling the rich coffee smell and letting it warm his hands before taking the first restorative sip.
"Its Tom's short day, gives them a full evening once a week. Besides, things are slow." Ianto sat on the edge of Jack's desk and placed his hand on Jack's cheek, "you look tired, why don't you go down and rest for a while. I'll finish up today's rounds then we can go back to the flat." Ianto had almost said 'home' but wanted to save that for whatever Jack found. "I shouldn't be more than 15 minutes." Ianto leaned over and gave Jack a soft kiss before pulling away to finish his daily chores. Jack leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes and smiling. He was tired, but if things went according to plan, it would be several hours before either of them slept.
---
"Jack, I don't care if the property is a great deal. I will not move to Splott." Ianto was pulling his mail from his post box while Jack continued to go on about the perfect house, except for being in Splott. Ianto noticed his neighbor, and smiled. "Hello Mrs. Gregory, sorry to be so loud." Ianto always tried to be polite to the old lady. She and her husband had converted the three story row house into two properties. While he had the top floor and roof, she had the first and second floors plus the gardens, and the freehold. She reminded him of his aunt, always working in the garden and smelling of carbolic. Mrs. Gregory walked over to the postal boxes where Jack and Ianto were still standing, Ianto slapping Jack's hand as it wandered a bit too much.
"You aren't thinking of moving now Ianto, are you? I thought you liked that flat up there. I know we didn't spend a lot when we made up the kitchen, but after the work you two did on the roof garden, well I thought you were going to be staying a while." Mrs. Gregory was rather fond of Ianto, and his handsome friend; oh she knew what the church said, but she remembers what Ianto was like when he first moved in, all quiet and alone, but since the first time she'd met this Jack Harkness, she decided if they were happy, well- what did it matter.
"Oh, I'm not planning to sell the flat ma'am, its just we," Ianto stammered trying to think of a good white lie.
"Ianto and I are going to adopt a child after our civil partnership. And though we love his flat, we need another room." Jack smiled at the elderly lady, and held tight to Ianto's hand. "But at the rate we're going, we may be crushed into his flat after all."
Mrs. Gregory smiled at them, "well, that's a relief. It wouldn't have done either of us any good if both properties were on the market."
Jack's eyes perked, "why Mrs. Gregory, are you going to sell?" Jack peered at Ianto with a broad grin. "Because if you are, I think we'd be very interested in buying. We could negotiate our own sale and save on agent fees. I'm more than happy to pay fair market value and we'd both come out ahead."
"Mr. Harkness, I believe you may have a deal. I'm planning to move in with my daughter, don't need this big old place for just me. And if you take care of this as well as you've done with that little flat, I can't think of a better purchaser. I'll tell my daughter to start collecting the paperwork from the clerk's office." She smiled at Jack and Ianto then patted Ianto's hand, "you keep a close eye on that one Ianto, he's a charmer." Before she went back into the house.
Jack and Ianto exchanged looks. Jack was smiling at the thought of having the perfect home and Ianto was remembering Branwen's words again. His flat would be her home, he could already imagine her moving up there to get away from the folks- but still close enough to come home for dinner. "Well, that's sorted. How about we get in and celebrate?" Jack squeezed Ianto's hand and dragged him up to the flat.
---
They were laying in bed, cooling down after another collision of their mutual addiction to each other's bodies. Ianto was stretched out, one hand under his head and the other lazily carding through Jack's hair. Jack was curled around Ianto, his head resting on Ianto's chest as his fingers made swirling patterns in the thick thatch of chest hair. "I didn't know you knew about flowers Ianto." Jack spoke against his chest, his breath causing goosebumps to rise and the hairs to stand to attention. "Its a little obscure even for you."
Ianto just smiled and ran a lazy finger over Jack's lips, "read a book about it - found it sitting in mam's room in hospital one time. It was something to pass the time." Ianto didn't often think about the times his mother was strapped to a hospital bed being pumped full of cocktails to try stopping whatever delusion was overrunning her. "Of course, my experience is purely academic- you lived through it. I imagine you made effective use of tussy mussies with devastating results." Ianto leaned down and kissed Jack.
"It was the Victorian era Ianto, it was a whole lot of innuendo and not a lot of action- at least not with women that you'd give a nosegay to, and not many men were interested in flowers." Jack swiped his tongue of the nearby nipple. "So Mister Jones, what flowers would you put in a wedding bouquet for us?" Jack slowly teased the nipple until it was small and hard.
Ianto caught his breath and gave it some thought. "We'd need yarrow. Most definitely." Jack's tongue slowly swirled down Ianto's treasure trail, dipping into his navel and pressing in and out. "Maybe, maybe coral rose too." Jack nipped his hip and dragged his nails down towards his thighs.
"What else?" Jack swirled his tongue around the tip of Ianto's cock, collecting a small bead of precum.
"Ginger, oh god do that again, and fir. Lots of fir." Jack started slowly working Ianto's erection down his throat. Jack pulled back off and looked at Ianto with a raised eyebrow. Ianto rolled his eyes and said, "red roses twpsyn, a bloody dozen of them!" Jack grinned and began moving Ianto closer and closer to the edge. Ianto was gasping, but he knew Jack wouldn't let him come until he gave the last flower. When Jack's teeth slowly grazed the large vein on the underside of his penis, Ianto shouted, "Lilac! Duw! Lilac because I never want to forget this!" The orgasm ripped from Ianto causing his back to arch and his fingers to lock in Jack's hair and his toes to curl. Jack worked him slowly down from his frenzy, cleaning and smiling to himself as Ianto started to lightly snore.
Jack pulled himself up next to Ianto who leaned back into Jack as he slept. "Don't forget the prince's feather Ianto, that's the important one."
The story continues in Sacrilege