Normal
“We are going to be normal,” said Ianto. “If it kills me.”
“Don’t say that,” said Jack, opening the hamper.
They had driven out to the countryside, ensuring there were no cannibals, and found a clearing in a wood, with no fairies.
“So what do we have here?” said Jack, studying Ianto’s immaculate and elaborate feast. “Fizzy grape juice to keep us alert. Cherry pie? Love cherry pie.”
“I know,” said Ianto, looking around nervously. Just a couple of hours, he thought to himself. No drama. Peaceful sunny day with a nice picnic. Please.
“Estelle used to bake the most exceptional cherry pie,” said Jack, tucking in.
Ianto scowled. “Jack! That’s for desert. And I made it from scratch. And I make the best cherry pie.”
Jack had the good grace to look guilty and swallowed his mouthful before placing the rest to the one side, conscientiously studying the savoury food. He glanced at Ianto.
“Sorry,” he mumbled. “It’s very good though.”
Ianto took that to mean ‘not as good’ and felt a swooping sensation in his stomach. He picked at a scotch egg miserably.
“I don’t like egg,” announced Jack, studying a sandwich.
“Fucking leave it then,” snapped Ianto, throwing the scotch egg down and scowling at the picnic rug.
“Hey!” chided Jack. “We’re having a lovely afternoon. Don’t spoil it.”
Ianto said nothing and continued to stare at the rug.
“You’ve been tetchy all morning. I thought it was because you were anxious to get here but now you’re still tetchy.”
A crease formed between Ianto’s eyebrows. He remained silent.
Jack sighed and looked about them. It was an idyllic setting with unusually warm April sunshine.
“Global warming,” he said to himself, gazing at the sky.
“Yeah sorry,” said Ianto sullenly. “Couldn’t programme the weather for the glorious summer of 1955.”
Jack sat up straight.
“Ianto,” he warned. “Cut it out or we’re going home.”
Another silence passed between them. Jack found a sandwich he did like and watched Ianto sulk at his lemonade. He looked around for some inspiration for changing the subject. There was a tree stump at the edge of a clearing, obviously a formerly beautiful old oak tree.
“I remember that tree,” said Jack. “It was so beautiful. I hate it when they chop down such beautiful trees.”
“It may have been poisoning something,” suggested Ianto.
Jack took a deep breath and then another bite of his sandwich, beginning to wish he hadn’t agreed to Ianto’s request for a normal day out.
“Are you going to eat anything?” he asked, mouth half full.
“No,” said Ianto. “Of course if Estelle had prepared it, I might have been tempted, seeing as she was such a good cook.”
Jack stilled. Ianto bit his lip. He could feel Jack glaring at him though his eyes were firmly averted elsewhere.
“Right,” said Jack. “I think we should go home. I’m not in the mood to babysit.”
“Oh fuck off Jack,” said Ianto suddenly, getting to his feet. “if you didn’t want to come why not say so in the first place, rather than coming out here and complaining about the food, the company and the fucking climate!”
Jack put his sandwich down on his paper plate. “Sit down.”
Ianto quivered. It was a deadly command.
“I don’t want to,” he said firmly, though his voice waivered and gave him away. He tried to stand as confidently as possible, inwardly trying to think of a way to get out of the trouble he was now in.
“Now.”
Another deadly command. Jack’s eyes bored into him. He stared back as he kept his obstinate stance. His eyes seemed to be begging Jack for something.
“I’ll spank you,” said Jack calmly, in a warning tone. He sat perfectly still and watched Ianto squirm on the spot. He tried to judge Ianto’s reaction to see if he could detect the slightest hint of consent. Ianto knew he was behaving badly - he’d already apologised for being stroppy twice that morning. So he must have known a part of him was asking for it.
He said nothing. Jack decided to take the lead.
“Ianto,” said Jack dangerously. “Say sorry, sit down, or I shall spank you.”
Ianto pouted and looked away but remained on the spot.
Jack sighed and put his paper plate to one side. He stood and walked over to Ianto.
“Right,” he said sharply, catching Ianto’s hand and leading him to the tree stump. “Come here.”
Ianto didn’t fight him but he wasn’t overly eager either. Or maybe he was hiding it. He refused to look Jack in the eye and remained tense as Jack sat down on the stump and began to unfasten and lower Ianto’s jeans. Neither of them noticed a small round object fall from Ianto’s pocket and onto the grass. Jack then whipped down Ianto’s briefs.
“Bastard,” murmured Ianto. Jack glared at him and abruptly pulled Ianto over his lap.
He immediately started to spank him with short, sharp slaps.
“Ow!” yelled Ianto, kicking his legs out.
“Keep still you impudent little...”
Jack failed to find an appropriate colourful metaphor to describe the young man flailing in his lap and compensated by smacking him extra hard.
It certainly seemed to chasten Ianto and he stilled a little in Jack’s lap, sniffing slightly.
Jack felt some relief that he wasn’t battling against a completely wild animal and continued to deliver a few more hard smacks. He heard Ianto sob and with one final and rather brutal swat, he lifted Ianto up to standing.
His face was flushed and he were eyes fixed on the grass. He wriggled uncomfortably. He tried to pull up his jeans and underpants but Jack stopped him, pointing a finger at him.
“You’ve been complaining all day that I’ve ruined our day together by comparing you to other lovers, or this weather to the glorious summer of 1955, or whatever it was you were bitching about. That’s enough now. You’re spoiling it by being naughty.”
“Jack I’m twenty-..” He was cut off by another smack from Jack who’d leant forward. He sniffed as Jack sat back on the stump again.
Ianto pouted and shifted on his feet.
“You know you’re behaving like a grumpy eight year old,” said Jack softly. His eyes were smiling a little. “Now sit down and let’s finish this delicious and so far unrivalled picnic that you prepared for us.”
Ianto silently pulled up his clothing and returned to the picnic rug, kneeling down next to the cherry pie. His eyes flitted to Jack’s momentarily. Just a flash of ‘am I forgiven?’, and then they were back on his food.
Jack responded only by stroking Ianto’s hair as he sat down next to him.
Five minutes later they hadn’t said another word, but were happily eating the food that Ianto had prepared. It really was a feast fit for a king. Jack felt a bit bad. He had been rather insensitive. He glanced at Ianto who was meekly nibbling his scotch egg.
He was just about to say something vaguely apologetic when there was a loud whistle and explosion, followed by multi-coloured sparkles falling all around them. They both leapt to their feet. Torchwood ready for action. But then there was another. And another. Pink and red sparkles. Blue and green. Fireworks. But they were coming from less than two meters away.
“What the Hell is that??” asked Jack. Ianto’s mouth fell open.
“Oh Jack,” he groaned. “It’s a firework display. I brought it with us. Thought it would be nice.”
Jack scowled at him. The explosions desisted and he approached what was now a burnt out circular box, the same size as a large pebble. He picked it up. It was hot and he immediately dropped it with a yell. Ianto ran up to him and picked it up in his handkerchief.
He turned to Jack and showed it to him as if he were a child showing a parent a penny he’d found.
But Jack was glaring.
“A firework display inside a pebble?” he questioned. “Ianto, this was not made in Cardiff.”
Ianto swallowed. “Actually it was. Just...200 years in the future.”
Jack was glowering at him.
“You are not supposed to have this.”
Ianto wriggled. “Thought it would be nice...” He trailed off pathetically. He unconsciously covered his backside with his hands.
“Do you have anything else I should know about, Ianto?” asked Jack. “You know, besides random illegal explosives which should never have left the hub meaning you are in serious trouble with me?”
“No,” said Ianto unconvincingly.
Jack put his hands on his hips. “Don’t lie to me.”
“I don’t,” said Ianto, placing his hands on his hips and daring Jack.
Jack’s eyes narrowed. Then he pressed a few buttons on his wrist strap and Ianto realised he’d made a very stupid mistake.
“You’re..” he began.
“...scanning for Alien Tech,” said Jack as a high pitched bleep filled the air.
Ianto’s eyes widened but it was too late. Jack had grabbed him and had him under one arm as his other hand searched Ianto’s back pocket. He pulled out the suspicious device.
“An i-Pod?” frowned Jack as Ianto continued to struggle underneath his arm. Then he flipped it over. There was a kind of microchip on the back with a tiny flashing light. Jack recognised the technology immediately. Ianto had rigged his i-Pod to automatically receive every song or piece of music ever written. Both on Earth and beyond. Using technology from the future. Very clever. And totally forbidden.
“I don’t know where you got this or how you did it, but you are in deep, deep trouble,” scolded Jack, employing his ‘Leader of Torchwood’ tone of voice. “And you know what,” he continued, pulling Ianto up to standing and pushing him towards the tree stump. “I don’t care if there are rules against beating employees. You’re getting a beating, right here, right now.”
Ianto backed away slightly at the word ‘beating’. He watched Jack approach him. He looked very cross. But Ianto didn’t feel physically threatened. He knew Jack would never harm him. But still, he knew he was in trouble and didn’t know if he liked the sound of it.
“J..Jack,” he stammered.
“No,” said Jack firmly. “You’ve pushed and pushed and you’ve asked for this big time. You know you have.”
Jack scrutinised Ianto’s reaction. He gave him a moment, a chance to protest in some way. In a way which they would both understand. But no protest came. Instead, Ianto gazed at him, doe-eyed, indicating defeat, and in their own private way, consent for Jack to take care of him.
Jack felt that trust reach him - it was almost palpable. Their eyes shared an understanding and Jack suddenly walked up to a large tree. Ianto watched as he grabbed a bendy looking branch and snapped it off.
“No wonder the trees disappear if you vandalise them,” said Ianto dryly.
Jack turned and gave him a very intense warning glare. Ianto immediately dropped his head and stared at the grass. He stood still, hands behind his back.
“Sorry, sir,” he muttered quietly. He felt Jack approach him slowly, but dangerously.
“I want you to turn around and take down both your jeans and your underwear,” said Jack, smoothly commanding. “Then bend over, hands on the tree stump, legs apart.”
Ianto began to obey. His heart was racing, his hands shaking. He felt a wave of guilt and some distress and having caused Jack to be this stern with him. But the thrill of it was overwhelming.
He turned and bent forwards, obeying Jack’s orders perfectly. He could feel him just inches behind him.
“Breathe,” said Jack, his voice deep. He rubbed the branch on Ianto’s leg. It felt rough, almost sharp. But also very light. Ianto tried not to think of what it would do to him.
“So, Ianto,” continued Jack in his military tone. “Your behaviour today has been thoroughly unacceptable. And you have been caught violating one of Torchwood’s most basic rules. Plus, you were deceitful. You are therefore going to be punished. And seeing as you’re so fond of the ways of different time periods, you will be punished in keeping with a time period of my choice.”
Ianto squirmed and Jack lightly slapped his bottom.
“Keep still.”
There was a moment’s pause during which a plane flew over head, reminding them they were both out in the open and in public. But they felt secluded. Miles away from everything. It felt so right.
“In my time,” said Jack, “corporal punishment isn’t entirely outlawed. It has its place and its uses in the right circumstances with the right offender. Provided it is administered with the correct intention, it is generally acceptable. Provided that privilege is not exploited in any way.”
“Your time?” questioned Ianto. “Which one is that? The past or the future?”
Jack rubbed Ianto’s back. “My past. Your future.” There was quiet emotion underneath his words. “It was discovered that human beings need to be taught, nurtured, loved and disciplined in all ways - especially physically. Provided no actual harm was caused. The offender would be assessed by physio-psychologists and they would recommend the best and most appropriate retribution.”
His voice was soothing. It was like he was reading a bed-time story. Ianto’s hands and arms were aching but he began to relax. He was no longer trembling. He felt strangely safe.
“It’s about the intention behind the action,” continued Jack. “For some, corporal punishment was extremely detrimental. For others, it was imperative. We’d long since learned to stop trying to separate our minds from our bodies, imagining our intellect and cerebral development somehow excluded our physical existence - what the body needs - how we exist and relate to the world around us. A person is an entirety - mind, heart, soul, body.”
He was still rubbing Ianto’s back. Ianto shifted a little bit, becoming uncomfortable. Jack let him.
“The body often learns first,” said Jack, his voice still calm. “Even when the brain has digested 101 facts, we still find ourselves drawn to things we can’t explain. We know the fire’s hot, but until we touch it and burn our fingers, we never really know. And what are we here for if not to fully learn everything through everything we are?”
Ianto had never experienced this side of Jack. He’d never revealed himself from the future. The things they must have learned over the centuries. And it was most likely kept from him for a reason. Ianto was not supposed to know yet. For the same reasons he was not supposed to have an inter-galactic i-Pod. He shifted on his feet again.
“I could never harm you, cariad,” whispered Jack, his hand still on Ianto’s back. But then it was withdrawn.
“But I will damn well punish you. Because I love you.”
Ianto gasped. And then there was the sound of something whistling through the air. A light cracking noise, and then it stung. Right across both buttocks. Just enough. He wriggled and whimpered.
Then it happened again. He flinched away from the noise of it but Jack’s aim was expert. It stung again. But there was something in the anticipation, the posture, his wrong-doing, and above all the presence of Jack, which made the sting of the branch the least significant factor.
He was being punished. He hadn’t hurt anyone. He’d just been... well, he wasn’t sure. Asking for it? Needing attention? Pushing Jack? Pushing his luck by using alien tech and expecting to get away with it because Jack was his lover? He grinned a little into the stump and then cried out as another blow came. It stung more than the others. He grit his teeth and found himself saying ‘sorry’ repeatedly but he heard nothing from Jack.
Another swipe on his backside.
“Ow!” he jumped up this time but was determined not to give in. He hopped from foot to foot before feeling Jack’s hand on the small of his back once more. He breathed deeply and bent over again. He tried not to whimper too loudly.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“What for?” asked Jack, his tone authoritative.
“For being childish today. For pushing you. For disobeying the rules.” His breathing was uneven. His bottom stung. “I wanted you to take care of me,” he said very quietly. “But I didn’t mean to put you in a position of having to discipline me - not seriously.”
Jack smiled to himself, the branch still in his hand.
“The fireworks were very dangerous, and the i-Pod thing was, well, just very naughty,” said Jack.
Ianto blushed. There was something about the way Jack said ‘naughty’.
“Your spoilt brat routine was fairly entertaining, but as you know I won’t tolerate it. Not now, not ever. I’ll always deal with you for that.”
Ianto felt a rush of assurance and relaxed again.
“But we’re not quite done here,” said Jack, steadily. Ianto swallowed and braced himself.
Jack brought the branch down firmly three more times. It stung, yes, but Ianto could tell Jack was controlling how much. And he knew it was good for him. And he knew that he was soon to be forgiven. Peace flooded his heart.
“Okay,” said Jack softly. “Stay like this for two minutes whilst I get some things organised.”
There was something in Jack’s tone, perhaps the mastery of it, that was beginning to appeal to Ianto in a very physical way. His position combined with Jack’s control was all of a sudden very pleasurable. He knew the pain was over. And above all, that Jack loved him.
He felt his body fully responding to Jack’s presence. He gave a breathy sigh.
Jack smirked and walked back up to Ianto.
“Stand up,” was the gentle order. Ianto did so, gingerly, trying not to voice any complaint. Then he felt Jack’s warmth behind him, quickly followed by two strong arms and a chaste kiss on the neck.
“How are you feeling?” asked Jack. It was his Jack again. Not Captain Jack.
“I’m okay,” said Ianto, sweetly. He subtly shifted himself back into Jack. They gradually pressed together a little more firmly and their breathing quickened. Jack kissed Ianto’s neck again, but this time much more sensuously.
Their bodies began to move together, like trees swaying in the wind. More and more Ianto felt Jack growing and pressing into his back. For some reason, it meant a lot to him that Jack hadn’t been aroused by his punishment. It was about taking care of Ianto, not getting his own pleasure. And Ianto trusted that absolutely Jack had Ianto’s interests at heart.
But now, things were getting hotter and moving in another direction entirely. There was the sound of their breathing, the wind in the trees and the singing of birds. And nothing else.
Jack was fully hard, his arms still wrapped tightly around Ianto as he continued to nuzzle his neck. Their bodies were moving more now, jerking slightly, hearts pounding. Ianto tried to move his hands behind them to feel Jack and unfasten his trousers. But Jack simply let go of Ianto and speedily undid them himself with a throaty moan. Then his arms wrapped around Ianto once more. One large hand travelled downwards and found Ianto’s hard-on at the same time as he ground himself against Ianto’s buttocks.
Ianto felt flesh on flesh and arched, rolling his head back into Jack as his cock was tenderly massaged.
“Jack,” he murmured. “I want you. Here. Please.”
Jack said nothing, but slowly guided Ianto forwards again, so that he was bent over the tree stump. Jack continued to stroke him but his free hand went somewhere else. Ianto could hear some fiddling about before he realised that Jack had come prepared. He groaned.
The woods around them seemed to kindly welcome their act of love. They could have been alone for miles. Or they could be being watched. But that was fast becoming insignificant.
“You bitch at me for having supplied so many varieties of picnic food,” hissed Ianto mockingly. “And here you are with the emergency love-lube. People in glass houses shouldn’t throw..”
He was interrupted by a sharp smack on his bottom.
“Shhhhh,” said Jack, before kissing his neck again.
Ianto felt Jack’s fingers near his entrance and gasped. He pushed back onto the coated digits and swallowed a cry. Jack held him in place and made him ready. Soon the fingers withdrew, and gently, slowly, Jack pushed forward into Ianto, causing them both to keen loudly.
They stilled for a few seconds, the peace of the woods surrounding them. Jack leant over Ianto, wrapping his arms underneath him and holding him tight. They breathed deeply before moving together, slowly, deliberately, intensely.
They were trembling as they moved, each nerve so sensitive. Here they were. In the middle of the woods, in the middle of nature. Loving each other in every way. It was so good.
“Ianto,” whispered Jack, his voice shaky. “I won’t last much longer. I’m sorry.”
“Just do it,” groaned Ianto, pushing back onto to Jack. But still Jack moved steadily. He tightened his grip on Ianto and kissed his back as his thrusts quickened and he became more vocal. Ianto growled beneath him. He felt Ianto begin to pump himself.
“Yes,” rasped Jack. “That’s it. Good boy. Come for me. Do it.”
Ianto made a wonderful noise as he moved his hips in time with Jack, his fist moving rapidly. There was the sound of flesh slapping flesh, various moans and groans, harsh breaths, furious stroking, still within the perfect music of the woods.
Jack’s breaths became short and sudden. “Ianto,” he whispered again as an alert, before giving a guttural grunt which vibrated through both of them, and bringing himself upright again he gripped Ianto’s hips with a loud shout. His thrusts slowed erratically, his head thrown back, and Ianto felt hot liquid pour deep inside him.
Supporting himself on just one hand, Ianto screamed out Jack’s name as his other hand became a blur and suddenly induced a heavy stream of semen which splattered over the tree stump. He milked himself thoroughly, through every undulation, as Jack continued to pulse inside him.
He thought his legs were about to buckle when he felt Jack slip from him and catch him around the waist in one movement.
“I’ve got you,” he breathed. They steadied each other for a moment and then they staggered to a cleaner, grassier area, trousers still around their ankles, before lowering themselves onto the ground.
Eventually they were breathing normally. They lay there and listened to the sounds of the woods. To the sounds of each other. Occasionally they shared a mischievous glance. But the light was fading, and soon it was time to go home.
They sat up, fully sober now, and giggled at each other as they restored their clothing.
“You’ve been such a bad boy today,” grinned Jack. “I’m taking you straight home and sending you straight to your room.” He nibbled Ianto’s ear. Ianto sighed blissfully then turned to Jack with a coquettish gaze. Jack pulled him in for a warm hug, kissing his cheek.
“No supper. No TV. No internet. No laptop. And an early night. And I’m confiscating your i-pod.”
Ianto giggled into Jack’s neck.
“Yes, sir,” he whispered.
Jack stood and held out his hand to Ianto, helping him to standing.
“Come on, Jones,” he said. “Let’s go home. We can finish this in bed this evening.”
Ianto frowned. “Can’t do that. We’ll get crumbs in the bed,” complained Ianto.
Jack rolled his eyes. “I see I’m no longer in charge.”
“Time off for good behaviour,” grinned Ianto. “My turn. Come on, Harkness. Look sharp and clear up this mess.”
Back to normal, then.