Fanfic - Counting Stars: Chocolate Cheesecake [Torchwood: Ianto, Toshiko, Jack/Ianto]
Title: Chocolate Cheesecake
Rating(s): PG-13
Characters/Pairing(s): Ianto, Toshiko, background Jack/Ianto
Warning(s): Spoilers for Counting Stars, and all attendant changes etc made to canon within that ‘verse.
Summary: Life's about living. It's time Ianto and Toshiko learned that.
Author's Notes: Counting Stars-verse - click here for the Master List. For those who don’t want to read it, all you need to know is that Jack and Ianto have a telepathic connection, and Ianto may or may not be immortal (they’ll find out next time he dies, I suppose). Oh, and Tosh and Owen survived the end of Season 2.
Chocolate Cheesecake
“He kicked me out.”
Ianto slowly wheeled Toshiko across the pavement, allowing himself to enjoy the wind and sunshine. It had been far too long since he’d been out and about during the day. It had probably been longer since Toshiko had seen daylight. “Yes, he said. “He did, didn’t he?”
Toshiko peered up at Ianto and glared half-heartedly. “He didn’t need to kick me out,” she said.
“He really did,” Ianto replied. “We were worried you’d start putting down roots soon.”
Toshiko rolled her eyes. “Wouldn’t have happened,” she muttered. “Not enough sunlight.”
Ianto smirked. “I do believe that was the point,” he commented. “Say, mind stopping for a bite? I’m feeling a bit peckish.”
“How about that café there?” Toshiko suggested, pointing at a quaint little affair down the street. The brightly-painted façade stood out in stark contrast to its surroundings, and there seemed to be old movie posters stuck on it. At the very least, the choice of decoration was perfect for them. “Unless you want something more substantial.”
“No, just a snack,” Ianto said. “Maybe a coffee. Let’s see if they’re any good, shall we?”
“Secretly, you like going to as many different cafés as possible to taste-test their coffees and compare them to yours, don’t you?” Toshiko asked.
“It’s clearly not much of a secret any more,” Ianto replied, smiling.
“Safe with me,” Toshiko proclaimed. “Isn’t there any outdoor seating at this place?”
“Doesn’t appear so,” Ianto said, wheeling her beside the door. “Let’s see if this’ll work -”
Fortunately, one of the counter staff noticed them trying to get in, and ran to hold the door open while Ianto pushed Toshiko in. It took a bit of doing to get the wheels smoothly over the slightly elevated entrance, but he eventually managed it.
“Cumbersome,” Toshiko sighed. “I suppose I’d best get used to it.”
“On the bright side,” Ianto said, “the new one should be arriving soon. You won’t need me chauffeuring you around then. And you’ll get to tinker with the joystick controls.”
“But it’s so much fun having you as my willing slave!” Toshiko said brightly.
Ianto chose not to dignify that with a response. “Don’t suppose you have a table with a bit more space?” he asked the waitress instead.
“The corner booth ought to work,” she said, suppressing a smile. “The side row of seats isn’t built in, so I can move those away. Just this way, please.”
The shop itself was just as odd as the exterior had seemed. The walls were painted a faded sepia, and the furniture was of some kind of complementary dark wood. Framed movie posters enlivened the place with bright splashes of colour. Each booth was also constructed with tall walls and tan half-curtains, to afford the customers a modicum of privacy. Ianto thought it awfully quirky, but appealing.
And yet, despite some of the customers being hidden behind their curtains, Ianto could still feel the curious stares of others on him and Toshiko. He had to tamp down the urge to do something stupid like glare at them, or stand in the middle of the shop and say She got shot and nearly killed and possibly permanently paralysed trying to save all our lives, so stop staring at her like she’s in a freak show. Instead, he steadfastly ignored them, a small, bland smile on his face.
The waitress shifted a couple of the chairs out of the way, making room for Ianto to wheel Toshiko up to the table, out of the line of sight of the customers. William Hurt peered down at them from a poster of The Accidental Tourist.
“What would you like, then?” he asked.
“I’m not fussed,” she said, shrugging. “Surprise me. You know all my favourites anyway.”
“All right,” Ianto said. “Be right back.”
He made his selection quickly, made a brief call to the Hub, and returned some minutes later with a tray that bore two cups of hot coffee, some scones and two slices of cheesecake. Toshiko eyed them apprehensively.
“I checked with Owen,” Ianto said, setting the tray down. “He said this was okay, but to just keep an eye on how you feel. Let me know if you’re getting queasy or anything, all right?”
“I’m sure you’ll know if I am,” Toshiko said happily, picking up her coffee and inhaling deeply. An expression of bliss settled over her face as Ianto watched in amusement. For someone who was used to at least three cups a day, going cold turkey for the past couple of weeks had to have been difficult. She practically moaned as the first sip hit her taste buds.
“Like it?” Ianto enquired, and then took a sip of his own drink. It really was quite good, and he absently tried to puzzle out the blend.
“Mm,” Toshiko said. “Not yours, of course - I think I’ve been spoiled for anything else - but this is good.”
“Why don’t I make you a special cup tomorrow?” Ianto said.
“Special?” Toshiko asked curiously.
“I’ll break out the good stuff,” Ianto promised.
Toshiko’s eyes lit up. “Better than the usual?” she asked, then rubbed her hands in glee when Ianto nodded. “That might just be orgasmically good!” she pronounced with satisfaction.
Ianto smirked. “Funny. That’s exactly what Jack said about it.”
“Oh, I see how it is,” Toshiko said. “You’ve been sneaking him the good stuff on the sly, haven’t you?”
Ianto laughed. “He has to have had a thoroughly miserable time of it for me to consider it,” he said. “And - well, the past couple of weeks qualify.”
“With a vengeance,” Toshiko said. “So you were trying to cheer him up with the coffee?”
“Yes,” Ianto admitted. “He seemed to like it.”
“Bet the coffee was just the beginning,” Toshiko said mischievously.
“The whole no-kissing-and-telling thing is lost on you, isn’t it?” Ianto said, shaking his head and mentally cursing the faint blush that had crept up his neck.
“Oh, yes,” Toshiko laughed, breaking off a bit of raisin scone and nibbling on it. “So? Details, Ianto, or I’ll go hunting for the security footage.”
“You’d not find any,” Ianto retorted. “It wasn’t anywhere near the cameras.”
Toshiko mock-pouted. “You always ruin my fun,” she complained. “You’ll still tell me though, right?”
“Neither of us got to sleep till much, much later,” Ianto said. “We’ll leave it at that, shall we?”
“You know, Owen and Gwen have this ongoing argument about what sex between you two is like,” Toshiko said casually, then started laughing at the absolutely horrified look Ianto gave her. From the booth next to them, something clattered loudly. Ianto hoped desperately that whoever was sitting there hadn’t heard them.
“Are you serious?” he asked apprehensively.
“I am indeed,” Toshiko replied, grinning. “Owen’s convinced that since this is Jack we’re talking about, it’s got to be kinky. Gwen reckons you wouldn’t stand for anything too - ah, outrageous - so Jack’s got to tone it down for you. To which Owen responded that if anyone could talk someone into something they didn’t want to do, it’d be Jack. To which Gwen said that even if he managed it the once, you’d put him on decaf the next day and he’d never do it again. Owen conceded the point but argued that -”
“All right already!” Ianto said, a pained grimace on his face. “I get the picture!”
Toshiko didn’t even have the decency to hide her amusement.
“And where exactly do you come into this picture?” Ianto asked, turning a wary eye on her.
“What makes you think I’m involved?” she asked, widening her eyes in artful innocence.
Ianto gave her his best flat, unimpressed look. She held his eyes for a few seconds, then grinned. “I play them against each other,” she confessed gleefully. “It’s hilarious.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Ianto grumbled. There was a faint smile in his eyes.
“So, you won’t even tell me?” she asked, batting her lashes at him exaggeratedly.
“About whether it’s kinky or not?” Ianto asked, raising an eyebrow. She nodded eagerly.
“This obsession you have with my sex life is mildly disturbing,” Ianto said. “Occasionally.”
It took Toshiko a moment to parse out the sentences, and then her eyes widened. “No!” she squeaked. “Really?”
“Well,” Ianto said thoughtfully. “Quite frequently, come to think of it.”
“Owen was right?” Toshiko asked in vaguely incredulous tones.
“There’s something I’d hate to admit to,” Ianto said. “But he’s only half-right, at least. They’re not always Jack’s ideas, you know.”
It was probably unfortunate timing that Toshiko had just taken a sip of coffee when Ianto said that. She proceeded to choke spectacularly on the mouthful, then started coughing violently. Ianto’s smile faded and he got up quickly, moving around to rub her back gently as she continued to cough.
“I know it’s easier said than done,” he said softly, “but try and stop coughing, love. Imagine what Owen will do to you if you tear your stitches again.”
After a minute, she finally managed to get the coughing under control. “Water?” Ianto asked, and gave her the glass at her teary nod. “Slowly,” he cautioned, fishing in his pocket for a handkerchief. When she was done with the water, he offered her the handkerchief to wipe away the tears that had sprung up from the force of the coughing.
“Any pain?” Ianto asked. “Feel like you’ve torn any stitches or anything?”
“Don’t think so,” she said hoarsely, dabbing at her eyes. “Oh, ow. That was not fun.”
“Didn’t sound it, no,” Ianto said wryly, finally moving back to his seat.
“Isn’t this just like us,” she sighed morosely.
“Isn’t what?” he asked blankly.
“Having fun and then being interrupted by life-or-death scenarios,” she said.
“Rubbish,” Ianto said briskly. “We don’t need to be having fun for that, we just need to be breathing.”
Toshiko laughed. “Well, it’s hard to breathe when there’s blood in your lungs.”
“I suppose you’d know,” Ianto said thoughtfully.
“Didn’t you -” she hesitated.
“I didn’t have time to feel much,” Ianto said calmly. “He shot me - what was it, thrice?” Toshiko nodded, and Ianto thought back to that terrifying moment when he’d been shot by Grey. “I felt this incredible pain in my back, but after a second or so - nothing.” Ianto shrugged.
“Oh,” Toshiko said quietly. Ianto reached over the table and took her hand.
“You know, I was in a very bad place after you nearly died,” he said.
“Me,” she said, laughing mirthlessly.
“You,” Ianto agreed. “I was terrified. At the plant, hearing that gunshot, having your voice suddenly cut off like that? I don’t know if you heard me - I kept asking you to say something and you didn’t, and none of the others were responding and I couldn’t even leave the damn place without fixing the bloody reactor so the entire city didn’t go up in radioactive smoke, and I was so scared I’d come back and find you dead.”
Toshiko stared at him with big, damp eyes, evidently taken aback at the breathless fear that was laced through Ianto’s voice.
“And even after,” he went unsteadily, “I couldn’t quite - deal - with what happened. Not what happened to me, but what happened to you.”
“Oh,” Toshiko said softly, something like understanding dawning in her eyes. “Yeah, I get it. It was the same way for me.”
Ianto gave her a weak smile.
“I think - neither of us really had the time to register what was going on,” Toshiko said. “I didn’t let myself think about it… just kept telling myself I had to finish what I was doing, stop him from getting out into the city, contain him somehow…”
“And obviously I was hardly in a position to realise I was about to get shot,” Ianto said with a soft laugh.
“Exactly,” Toshiko murmured.
“I was thinking,” Ianto said, “about the nature of the job. We don’t have a great life expectancy, you know? Five years on average. You’re a few months from that, and if we include my stint in One, I’ll hit the mark a few months after you. Which gets a little depressing, if you think about it too long.”
“Or scary,” Toshiko interrupted.
“Or that,” Ianto agreed. “Except, Jack said something to me that maybe you want to think about, too.”
Toshiko gave him an expectant look.
“He said, ‘Don’t get so caught up in mourning her that you forget she’s still alive,’” Ianto said, finally letting go of Toshiko’s hand. He looked away, studying the poster that decorated their booth.
Toshiko looked down at the crumbs of her scone wistfully. “That’s nice,” she said. “I do get it, but it’s hard, isn’t it?”
Ianto nodded. “Oh, yes,” he said with feeling. “But he was right. I was mourning you, and I forgot that I hadn’t lost you yet. And that even when you do die, I still won’t lose you. And I’ve got to try and remember that, and not walk around in a permanently funereal state of mind.”
“Live, don’t just survive,” Toshiko paraphrased. “I suppose that’s why he was so insistent we get out for some air today.”
“Right,” Ianto said, smiling. “Don’t let it drift, to quote Jack again. And I reckon you can begin by making inroads on that cheesecake of yours.”
“Chocolate,” she said happily, picking up a fork and digging in. “My favourite. Thanks, Ianto.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, smiling gently at her. He started in on his own cheesecake, and they sat there in companionable silence for a while, enjoying the rich chocolatey flavour of their desserts.
“Speaking of five years,” Toshiko said thoughtfully. “You know the conditions under which I came to work here, right?”
“Only the barest details,” Ianto said cautiously. “What was in your file, but not the classified parts.”
“I’ll tell you more when we’re in a secure place,” Toshiko said, licking her fork clean. “But for various reasons, I haven’t been able to see my family more than once a year for the past four years. My - shall we say, bond - is up this year, so my mum’s planning a big family reunion.”
“I’m sure you’ll get to the point some time soon,” Ianto prompted.
“Will you come with me?” Toshiko asked. “It’ll likely be around September. Jack knows I’ll be taking the week off then, but we’ll have to ask him about giving you time off too. If he agrees, though -”
“Are you sure you want me intruding on a family reunion, though?” Ianto asked worriedly.
“That’s precisely why I want you there,” Toshiko said, smiling. “It wouldn’t be the same without my onii-san* there.”
“… You do realise you’re older than me,” Ianto complained, blushing faintly.
“Still my onii-san,” Toshiko laughed. “Besides, I’m looking forward to the looks on their faces when they realise a Welshman speaks perfect Japanese.”
“It’s hardly perfect,” Ianto grumbled under his breath.
“So you’ll come?” Toshiko asked.
“Of course,” Ianto said. “Barring any major incidents, of course. I don’t think Jack will mind.”
“Butter him up,” Toshiko said. “Demo - hontou ni arigatou, Ianto-nii-san.”*
“Ii yo,” Ianto replied. “Imouto no tame dakara.”*
“I feel so special,” Toshiko said, preening a little. “And you see, you’ll fit in perfectly.”
Ianto laughed. “If they’re anything like you, I suspect I’ll wind up with another adoptive family,” he joked. “I’ll be tripping over family members wherever I go.”
“We can hope,” Toshiko said, her eyes a little melancholic. “I’ve only been able to see them under Jack’s supervision - part of the terms - I’ll explain later. And well, it’s hardly the most natural setting, is it?”
“Not quite, no,” Ianto agreed. “But that’ll change from September onwards, won’t it?”
“It will,” Toshiko said. “If I’m alive.”
“Mind you are,” Ianto said sternly. “I might fish up another Glove if you go dying on me.”
Toshiko shook her head. “Only in Torchwood would that actually sound like a threat,” she commented. “I’ll do my best to refrain from dying. I have far too much I want to do.” She scraped her fork along her plate and licked it off, then reluctantly set it down. “And I think I’m done. It was nice knowing you, chocolate cheesecake.”
Ianto smirked and finished off his last bit of coffee. “Ready to go, then?” he asked. “I thought we might take a little meander around Cardiff. See the place when we’re not frantically chasing evil villains and the like.”
“Evil villains?” Toshiko asked, even as Ianto started putting their things away. One of the counter staff came over to help remove their tray so that Ianto could work on getting Toshiko’s wheelchair out without bumping her around. “You make it sound so cartoony.”
“What would you prefer?” Ianto asked. “Hopelessly pathetic creatures generally out to make a quick buck and therefore winding up neck deep in things they know nothing about and inadvertently getting themselves and-or others killed in the process until Torchwood steps in to put a stop to their utter stupidity?”
“It’s more accurate,” Toshiko said. “But also more of a mouthful. ‘Evil villains’ works.”
“I thought it might,” Ianto said. “Thank you,” he added to the waitress who held the door for him as he pushed her out. Her eyes were saucer-wide, and he rather suspected she’d have stories to tell her family that evening. It would be intriguing to know how quickly the rumours mutated, and into what - but then, having multiple contradictory stories about the nature of their work was almost always of benefit to Torchwood.
The sunlight hit him as he re-emerged into bright daylight. The air was cool and crisp, the brisk wind eddying through his clothes. Ianto took a moment to pull his jacket firmly around himself, the faint smell of coffee and smoke lingering in the air.
“Ready?” he asked, taking hold of the wheelchair handles.
“Yes,” Toshiko replied, gazing ahead. “I’m ready.”
~fin
* Glossary:
Onii-san/nii-san: Older brother; sometimes used with the person’s name as a prefix
Demo - hontou ni arigatou, Ianto-nii-san: But - really, thanks, Ianto-nii-san.
Ii yo, imouto no tame dakara: It’s fine, since it’s for my younger sister.
I did want to play with the idea that they’re comfortable with each other’s languages/cultures, hence the use of Japanese here. I hope it didn’t throw you out of the story too much. Also, I’m not completely fluent, so I’m sorry if I flubbed the grammar or something!
Totally randomly, it really amuses me how well the current song fits the theme of this story. =D
Concrit please?
Rating(s): PG-13
Characters/Pairing(s): Ianto, Toshiko, background Jack/Ianto
Warning(s): Spoilers for Counting Stars, and all attendant changes etc made to canon within that ‘verse.
Summary: Life's about living. It's time Ianto and Toshiko learned that.
Author's Notes: Counting Stars-verse - click here for the Master List. For those who don’t want to read it, all you need to know is that Jack and Ianto have a telepathic connection, and Ianto may or may not be immortal (they’ll find out next time he dies, I suppose). Oh, and Tosh and Owen survived the end of Season 2.
Chocolate Cheesecake
“He kicked me out.”
Ianto slowly wheeled Toshiko across the pavement, allowing himself to enjoy the wind and sunshine. It had been far too long since he’d been out and about during the day. It had probably been longer since Toshiko had seen daylight. “Yes, he said. “He did, didn’t he?”
Toshiko peered up at Ianto and glared half-heartedly. “He didn’t need to kick me out,” she said.
“He really did,” Ianto replied. “We were worried you’d start putting down roots soon.”
Toshiko rolled her eyes. “Wouldn’t have happened,” she muttered. “Not enough sunlight.”
Ianto smirked. “I do believe that was the point,” he commented. “Say, mind stopping for a bite? I’m feeling a bit peckish.”
“How about that café there?” Toshiko suggested, pointing at a quaint little affair down the street. The brightly-painted façade stood out in stark contrast to its surroundings, and there seemed to be old movie posters stuck on it. At the very least, the choice of decoration was perfect for them. “Unless you want something more substantial.”
“No, just a snack,” Ianto said. “Maybe a coffee. Let’s see if they’re any good, shall we?”
“Secretly, you like going to as many different cafés as possible to taste-test their coffees and compare them to yours, don’t you?” Toshiko asked.
“It’s clearly not much of a secret any more,” Ianto replied, smiling.
“Safe with me,” Toshiko proclaimed. “Isn’t there any outdoor seating at this place?”
“Doesn’t appear so,” Ianto said, wheeling her beside the door. “Let’s see if this’ll work -”
Fortunately, one of the counter staff noticed them trying to get in, and ran to hold the door open while Ianto pushed Toshiko in. It took a bit of doing to get the wheels smoothly over the slightly elevated entrance, but he eventually managed it.
“Cumbersome,” Toshiko sighed. “I suppose I’d best get used to it.”
“On the bright side,” Ianto said, “the new one should be arriving soon. You won’t need me chauffeuring you around then. And you’ll get to tinker with the joystick controls.”
“But it’s so much fun having you as my willing slave!” Toshiko said brightly.
Ianto chose not to dignify that with a response. “Don’t suppose you have a table with a bit more space?” he asked the waitress instead.
“The corner booth ought to work,” she said, suppressing a smile. “The side row of seats isn’t built in, so I can move those away. Just this way, please.”
The shop itself was just as odd as the exterior had seemed. The walls were painted a faded sepia, and the furniture was of some kind of complementary dark wood. Framed movie posters enlivened the place with bright splashes of colour. Each booth was also constructed with tall walls and tan half-curtains, to afford the customers a modicum of privacy. Ianto thought it awfully quirky, but appealing.
And yet, despite some of the customers being hidden behind their curtains, Ianto could still feel the curious stares of others on him and Toshiko. He had to tamp down the urge to do something stupid like glare at them, or stand in the middle of the shop and say She got shot and nearly killed and possibly permanently paralysed trying to save all our lives, so stop staring at her like she’s in a freak show. Instead, he steadfastly ignored them, a small, bland smile on his face.
The waitress shifted a couple of the chairs out of the way, making room for Ianto to wheel Toshiko up to the table, out of the line of sight of the customers. William Hurt peered down at them from a poster of The Accidental Tourist.
“What would you like, then?” he asked.
“I’m not fussed,” she said, shrugging. “Surprise me. You know all my favourites anyway.”
“All right,” Ianto said. “Be right back.”
He made his selection quickly, made a brief call to the Hub, and returned some minutes later with a tray that bore two cups of hot coffee, some scones and two slices of cheesecake. Toshiko eyed them apprehensively.
“I checked with Owen,” Ianto said, setting the tray down. “He said this was okay, but to just keep an eye on how you feel. Let me know if you’re getting queasy or anything, all right?”
“I’m sure you’ll know if I am,” Toshiko said happily, picking up her coffee and inhaling deeply. An expression of bliss settled over her face as Ianto watched in amusement. For someone who was used to at least three cups a day, going cold turkey for the past couple of weeks had to have been difficult. She practically moaned as the first sip hit her taste buds.
“Like it?” Ianto enquired, and then took a sip of his own drink. It really was quite good, and he absently tried to puzzle out the blend.
“Mm,” Toshiko said. “Not yours, of course - I think I’ve been spoiled for anything else - but this is good.”
“Why don’t I make you a special cup tomorrow?” Ianto said.
“Special?” Toshiko asked curiously.
“I’ll break out the good stuff,” Ianto promised.
Toshiko’s eyes lit up. “Better than the usual?” she asked, then rubbed her hands in glee when Ianto nodded. “That might just be orgasmically good!” she pronounced with satisfaction.
Ianto smirked. “Funny. That’s exactly what Jack said about it.”
“Oh, I see how it is,” Toshiko said. “You’ve been sneaking him the good stuff on the sly, haven’t you?”
Ianto laughed. “He has to have had a thoroughly miserable time of it for me to consider it,” he said. “And - well, the past couple of weeks qualify.”
“With a vengeance,” Toshiko said. “So you were trying to cheer him up with the coffee?”
“Yes,” Ianto admitted. “He seemed to like it.”
“Bet the coffee was just the beginning,” Toshiko said mischievously.
“The whole no-kissing-and-telling thing is lost on you, isn’t it?” Ianto said, shaking his head and mentally cursing the faint blush that had crept up his neck.
“Oh, yes,” Toshiko laughed, breaking off a bit of raisin scone and nibbling on it. “So? Details, Ianto, or I’ll go hunting for the security footage.”
“You’d not find any,” Ianto retorted. “It wasn’t anywhere near the cameras.”
Toshiko mock-pouted. “You always ruin my fun,” she complained. “You’ll still tell me though, right?”
“Neither of us got to sleep till much, much later,” Ianto said. “We’ll leave it at that, shall we?”
“You know, Owen and Gwen have this ongoing argument about what sex between you two is like,” Toshiko said casually, then started laughing at the absolutely horrified look Ianto gave her. From the booth next to them, something clattered loudly. Ianto hoped desperately that whoever was sitting there hadn’t heard them.
“Are you serious?” he asked apprehensively.
“I am indeed,” Toshiko replied, grinning. “Owen’s convinced that since this is Jack we’re talking about, it’s got to be kinky. Gwen reckons you wouldn’t stand for anything too - ah, outrageous - so Jack’s got to tone it down for you. To which Owen responded that if anyone could talk someone into something they didn’t want to do, it’d be Jack. To which Gwen said that even if he managed it the once, you’d put him on decaf the next day and he’d never do it again. Owen conceded the point but argued that -”
“All right already!” Ianto said, a pained grimace on his face. “I get the picture!”
Toshiko didn’t even have the decency to hide her amusement.
“And where exactly do you come into this picture?” Ianto asked, turning a wary eye on her.
“What makes you think I’m involved?” she asked, widening her eyes in artful innocence.
Ianto gave her his best flat, unimpressed look. She held his eyes for a few seconds, then grinned. “I play them against each other,” she confessed gleefully. “It’s hilarious.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Ianto grumbled. There was a faint smile in his eyes.
“So, you won’t even tell me?” she asked, batting her lashes at him exaggeratedly.
“About whether it’s kinky or not?” Ianto asked, raising an eyebrow. She nodded eagerly.
“This obsession you have with my sex life is mildly disturbing,” Ianto said. “Occasionally.”
It took Toshiko a moment to parse out the sentences, and then her eyes widened. “No!” she squeaked. “Really?”
“Well,” Ianto said thoughtfully. “Quite frequently, come to think of it.”
“Owen was right?” Toshiko asked in vaguely incredulous tones.
“There’s something I’d hate to admit to,” Ianto said. “But he’s only half-right, at least. They’re not always Jack’s ideas, you know.”
It was probably unfortunate timing that Toshiko had just taken a sip of coffee when Ianto said that. She proceeded to choke spectacularly on the mouthful, then started coughing violently. Ianto’s smile faded and he got up quickly, moving around to rub her back gently as she continued to cough.
“I know it’s easier said than done,” he said softly, “but try and stop coughing, love. Imagine what Owen will do to you if you tear your stitches again.”
After a minute, she finally managed to get the coughing under control. “Water?” Ianto asked, and gave her the glass at her teary nod. “Slowly,” he cautioned, fishing in his pocket for a handkerchief. When she was done with the water, he offered her the handkerchief to wipe away the tears that had sprung up from the force of the coughing.
“Any pain?” Ianto asked. “Feel like you’ve torn any stitches or anything?”
“Don’t think so,” she said hoarsely, dabbing at her eyes. “Oh, ow. That was not fun.”
“Didn’t sound it, no,” Ianto said wryly, finally moving back to his seat.
“Isn’t this just like us,” she sighed morosely.
“Isn’t what?” he asked blankly.
“Having fun and then being interrupted by life-or-death scenarios,” she said.
“Rubbish,” Ianto said briskly. “We don’t need to be having fun for that, we just need to be breathing.”
Toshiko laughed. “Well, it’s hard to breathe when there’s blood in your lungs.”
“I suppose you’d know,” Ianto said thoughtfully.
“Didn’t you -” she hesitated.
“I didn’t have time to feel much,” Ianto said calmly. “He shot me - what was it, thrice?” Toshiko nodded, and Ianto thought back to that terrifying moment when he’d been shot by Grey. “I felt this incredible pain in my back, but after a second or so - nothing.” Ianto shrugged.
“Oh,” Toshiko said quietly. Ianto reached over the table and took her hand.
“You know, I was in a very bad place after you nearly died,” he said.
“Me,” she said, laughing mirthlessly.
“You,” Ianto agreed. “I was terrified. At the plant, hearing that gunshot, having your voice suddenly cut off like that? I don’t know if you heard me - I kept asking you to say something and you didn’t, and none of the others were responding and I couldn’t even leave the damn place without fixing the bloody reactor so the entire city didn’t go up in radioactive smoke, and I was so scared I’d come back and find you dead.”
Toshiko stared at him with big, damp eyes, evidently taken aback at the breathless fear that was laced through Ianto’s voice.
“And even after,” he went unsteadily, “I couldn’t quite - deal - with what happened. Not what happened to me, but what happened to you.”
“Oh,” Toshiko said softly, something like understanding dawning in her eyes. “Yeah, I get it. It was the same way for me.”
Ianto gave her a weak smile.
“I think - neither of us really had the time to register what was going on,” Toshiko said. “I didn’t let myself think about it… just kept telling myself I had to finish what I was doing, stop him from getting out into the city, contain him somehow…”
“And obviously I was hardly in a position to realise I was about to get shot,” Ianto said with a soft laugh.
“Exactly,” Toshiko murmured.
“I was thinking,” Ianto said, “about the nature of the job. We don’t have a great life expectancy, you know? Five years on average. You’re a few months from that, and if we include my stint in One, I’ll hit the mark a few months after you. Which gets a little depressing, if you think about it too long.”
“Or scary,” Toshiko interrupted.
“Or that,” Ianto agreed. “Except, Jack said something to me that maybe you want to think about, too.”
Toshiko gave him an expectant look.
“He said, ‘Don’t get so caught up in mourning her that you forget she’s still alive,’” Ianto said, finally letting go of Toshiko’s hand. He looked away, studying the poster that decorated their booth.
Toshiko looked down at the crumbs of her scone wistfully. “That’s nice,” she said. “I do get it, but it’s hard, isn’t it?”
Ianto nodded. “Oh, yes,” he said with feeling. “But he was right. I was mourning you, and I forgot that I hadn’t lost you yet. And that even when you do die, I still won’t lose you. And I’ve got to try and remember that, and not walk around in a permanently funereal state of mind.”
“Live, don’t just survive,” Toshiko paraphrased. “I suppose that’s why he was so insistent we get out for some air today.”
“Right,” Ianto said, smiling. “Don’t let it drift, to quote Jack again. And I reckon you can begin by making inroads on that cheesecake of yours.”
“Chocolate,” she said happily, picking up a fork and digging in. “My favourite. Thanks, Ianto.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, smiling gently at her. He started in on his own cheesecake, and they sat there in companionable silence for a while, enjoying the rich chocolatey flavour of their desserts.
“Speaking of five years,” Toshiko said thoughtfully. “You know the conditions under which I came to work here, right?”
“Only the barest details,” Ianto said cautiously. “What was in your file, but not the classified parts.”
“I’ll tell you more when we’re in a secure place,” Toshiko said, licking her fork clean. “But for various reasons, I haven’t been able to see my family more than once a year for the past four years. My - shall we say, bond - is up this year, so my mum’s planning a big family reunion.”
“I’m sure you’ll get to the point some time soon,” Ianto prompted.
“Will you come with me?” Toshiko asked. “It’ll likely be around September. Jack knows I’ll be taking the week off then, but we’ll have to ask him about giving you time off too. If he agrees, though -”
“Are you sure you want me intruding on a family reunion, though?” Ianto asked worriedly.
“That’s precisely why I want you there,” Toshiko said, smiling. “It wouldn’t be the same without my onii-san* there.”
“… You do realise you’re older than me,” Ianto complained, blushing faintly.
“Still my onii-san,” Toshiko laughed. “Besides, I’m looking forward to the looks on their faces when they realise a Welshman speaks perfect Japanese.”
“It’s hardly perfect,” Ianto grumbled under his breath.
“So you’ll come?” Toshiko asked.
“Of course,” Ianto said. “Barring any major incidents, of course. I don’t think Jack will mind.”
“Butter him up,” Toshiko said. “Demo - hontou ni arigatou, Ianto-nii-san.”*
“Ii yo,” Ianto replied. “Imouto no tame dakara.”*
“I feel so special,” Toshiko said, preening a little. “And you see, you’ll fit in perfectly.”
Ianto laughed. “If they’re anything like you, I suspect I’ll wind up with another adoptive family,” he joked. “I’ll be tripping over family members wherever I go.”
“We can hope,” Toshiko said, her eyes a little melancholic. “I’ve only been able to see them under Jack’s supervision - part of the terms - I’ll explain later. And well, it’s hardly the most natural setting, is it?”
“Not quite, no,” Ianto agreed. “But that’ll change from September onwards, won’t it?”
“It will,” Toshiko said. “If I’m alive.”
“Mind you are,” Ianto said sternly. “I might fish up another Glove if you go dying on me.”
Toshiko shook her head. “Only in Torchwood would that actually sound like a threat,” she commented. “I’ll do my best to refrain from dying. I have far too much I want to do.” She scraped her fork along her plate and licked it off, then reluctantly set it down. “And I think I’m done. It was nice knowing you, chocolate cheesecake.”
Ianto smirked and finished off his last bit of coffee. “Ready to go, then?” he asked. “I thought we might take a little meander around Cardiff. See the place when we’re not frantically chasing evil villains and the like.”
“Evil villains?” Toshiko asked, even as Ianto started putting their things away. One of the counter staff came over to help remove their tray so that Ianto could work on getting Toshiko’s wheelchair out without bumping her around. “You make it sound so cartoony.”
“What would you prefer?” Ianto asked. “Hopelessly pathetic creatures generally out to make a quick buck and therefore winding up neck deep in things they know nothing about and inadvertently getting themselves and-or others killed in the process until Torchwood steps in to put a stop to their utter stupidity?”
“It’s more accurate,” Toshiko said. “But also more of a mouthful. ‘Evil villains’ works.”
“I thought it might,” Ianto said. “Thank you,” he added to the waitress who held the door for him as he pushed her out. Her eyes were saucer-wide, and he rather suspected she’d have stories to tell her family that evening. It would be intriguing to know how quickly the rumours mutated, and into what - but then, having multiple contradictory stories about the nature of their work was almost always of benefit to Torchwood.
The sunlight hit him as he re-emerged into bright daylight. The air was cool and crisp, the brisk wind eddying through his clothes. Ianto took a moment to pull his jacket firmly around himself, the faint smell of coffee and smoke lingering in the air.
“Ready?” he asked, taking hold of the wheelchair handles.
“Yes,” Toshiko replied, gazing ahead. “I’m ready.”
~fin
* Glossary:
Onii-san/nii-san: Older brother; sometimes used with the person’s name as a prefix
Demo - hontou ni arigatou, Ianto-nii-san: But - really, thanks, Ianto-nii-san.
Ii yo, imouto no tame dakara: It’s fine, since it’s for my younger sister.
I did want to play with the idea that they’re comfortable with each other’s languages/cultures, hence the use of Japanese here. I hope it didn’t throw you out of the story too much. Also, I’m not completely fluent, so I’m sorry if I flubbed the grammar or something!
Totally randomly, it really amuses me how well the current song fits the theme of this story. =D
Concrit please?