Bret had, admittedly, forgotten about the meeting until he'd glanced at his journal and seen Jack's note. He figured he had time, so he'd gone for a walk and, thinking of Jack and his penchant for roofs, had made the extra effort to take his walk onto the raised walkways for a few minutes before getting dizzy and laying down on his stomach in the center of one of the paths
( ... )
"Bret." Jack smiled and gestured to one of the chairs. He was glad Bret had shown up. "Have a seat. Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Tea?" Jemaine probably wasn't coming, because he didn't like Jack and was being an ass about it, so he hadn't actually expected to see Bret. It was a nice surprise.
Bret smiled. "Tea, yeah. Thanks." He took a seat, feeling a little awkward sitting on his own. At least Jack was talking to him. He didn't look completely lonely. As far as Bret knew, looking lonely was only worth it to pick up girls, which he didn't really intend to do.
Better make conversation. "How're you?" He licked his lips, trying to think of what he could ask that didn't involve Ianto somehow. It was difficult. Bret wondered if the same could be said of him and Jemaine.
Jack poured from the pot that he'd already made at Cho's request. "I'm good. Busy. Hoping to streamline that today. You?" He'd never really bothered with putting the tea into bags, but Ianto and Cho had made some of those little strainers that went over the top of the cup, and Jack caught the leaves with one before they made it into Bret's beverage. "Milk or sugar?"
Bret shrugged. "Just glad I got here on time," he replied, and then added, "I, um. Hung out on the walkways a bit today." He pointed up, smiling sheepishly. "I think I'm getting better about, you know. Heights."
He nodded in response to his question. "Both, please." He watched with interest, a little amused by the image of Jack making tea. He seemed too...something...for that. Although he supposed, given his relationship with Ianto, Jack probably had some domestic genes in him somewhere.
If Bret had any idea just how domestic Jack could actually be, he would have been amazed. Jack laughed while he added milk and then scooped sugar from the bowl twice, stirring before discarding the spoon. "Trying to work your way up to rooftops? Is that why I haven't seen you lately?" He held out the mug, handle pointed in Bret's direction - actual teacups and saucers were just a bad idea, also basically impossible to find. Not that Jack and Ianto drank enough tea for it to matter. Cho came by occasionally to renew the spells she'd cast around the place. The tea was almost entirely for her benefit. "Careful. It's hot."
Bret's smile wavered slightly as he took the mug. He stared into it for a moment before responding. "I, um. Well. Jemaine's still...a little bothered. I figure we're still getting used to the whole--" He waved his hand vaguely. "--relationship...thing. I don't want him to be nervous about, you know. Stuff."
He drew his finger around the edge of the mug thoughtfully. "I think he's worried about Ianto too. They're really close." He lowered his voice, thumb and forefinger pinching the handle of the mug and turning it side to side in a misguided attempt to seem casual. "I guess Ianto was jealous too."
Jack hadn't figured on that. He probably should have. Ianto was possessive. Not that that was a bad thing. Jack liked having someone be possessive over him. It meant he had value. "I think we're okay now." Of course, Jemaine was touchy, and he didn't like Jack. This probably explained that. "So... you're avoiding me to make Jemaine feel better? He doesn't think I'd try anything with you now?" Uncomfortable thought. "You don't think that, do you?"
Bret bit his tongue, catching the 'no' that wanted to come out automatically. Easily. Because Bret liked nothing better than smoothing things over. But this wasn't that simple, and he'd known that when he'd started consciously avoiding Jack. He couldn't be dishonest about it
( ... )
Wow. That was... kind of sad, actually. "Bret..." Jack tried to think of how best to phrase what he wanted to say. "I have a problem with commitment, and some very big emotional issues, but I'm faithful. I'm with Ianto, and that means that nothing is going to happen with anyone else. It's not even an option. You don't have to... You're a nice guy, obviously. I enjoyed our time together, but it's over now. That's it. You don't have to be worried, and neither does Jemaine. I don't trust easily, but I trust Ianto. I wouldn't hurt him. Not for anything."
Bret frowned. "Yeah. Yeah, I know." He couldn't help but feel like Jack hadn't listened as closely as he could have. Unless he was making a point about how he should be extra faithful to prove Jemaine wrong. Which was Bret's basic idea anyway.
He fidgeted with the cup some more, looking down. "I'm glad you have Ianto. I'm glad you're happy. Both of you." He chewed his lip and reiterated, "I know you care a lot about him. You're fine." Jemaine didn't like Jack, but he wouldn't be an issue if it weren't for Bret's past.
He still hadn't actually said that he didn't think that Jack might make a move on him, but it was closer. Communication wasn't exactly Bret's strength. "Just so we're clear," Jack said, nodding to himself. "If there's anything I can do to help Jemaine get his head out of his ass, just let me know."
Bret glanced away, considering how Jemaine would react to Jack trying to explain things. He didn't predict that would go well. The very mention of Jack made Jemaine go rigid with...something. Fury, maybe. That was the phrase, anyway
( ... )
Jack nodded and then took a sip from his own mug, which was coffee with a bit of whiskey in it. "Bret," he said, leaning slightly to the side and dropping his voice. "For whatever it's worth, I think you might be underestimating yourself slightly. You love him, and you can do this." He'd never actually said that he couldn't, but Jack had... a feeling. "You're a better man than you think you are."
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Better make conversation. "How're you?" He licked his lips, trying to think of what he could ask that didn't involve Ianto somehow. It was difficult. Bret wondered if the same could be said of him and Jemaine.
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He nodded in response to his question. "Both, please." He watched with interest, a little amused by the image of Jack making tea. He seemed too...something...for that. Although he supposed, given his relationship with Ianto, Jack probably had some domestic genes in him somewhere.
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He drew his finger around the edge of the mug thoughtfully. "I think he's worried about Ianto too. They're really close." He lowered his voice, thumb and forefinger pinching the handle of the mug and turning it side to side in a misguided attempt to seem casual. "I guess Ianto was jealous too."
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He fidgeted with the cup some more, looking down. "I'm glad you have Ianto. I'm glad you're happy. Both of you." He chewed his lip and reiterated, "I know you care a lot about him. You're fine." Jemaine didn't like Jack, but he wouldn't be an issue if it weren't for Bret's past.
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