Fic: Hidden - Chapter 31/31
Title: Hidden
Rating: R/MA - contains violence, language and sexual references.
Length: ~48,000 words
Characters/pairings: Ianto, Jack, Gwen, OCs, mention of Rhys, Tosh and Owen. Jack/Ianto.
Disclaimer: The OCs are mine, anyone and anything you recognise from Torchwood belongs to the BBC.
Notes: Anything up to 'Exit Wounds' for Torchwood, with reference to the events of 'The Stolen Earth' and 'Journey's End' for Doctor Who. AU. Oh so very AU. Even more so once series three starts.
Thanks to: the lovely cazmalfoy and et_muse for beta-reading and general poking.
Summary: 'This is Torchwood Three...Torchwood Four's kinda gone missing, but we'll find it one day.' Torchwood One wasn't the first job Ianto had - wasn't the first Torchwood branch he worked for. Now his past is coming back to put everyone he loves in danger.
Chapter One - Chapter Two - Chapter Three - Chapter Four - Chapter Five - Chapter Six - Chapter Seven - Chapter Eight - Chapter Nine - Chapter Ten - Chapter Eleven - Chapter Twelve - Chapter Thirteen - Chapter Fourteen - Chapter Fifteen - Chapter Sixteen - Chapter Seventeen - Chapter Eighteen - Chapter Nineteen - Chapter Twenty - Chapter Twenty-One - Chapter Twenty-Two - Chapter Twenty-Three - Chapter Twenty-Four - Chapter Twenty-Five - Chapter Twenty-Six - Chapter Twenty-Seven - Chapter Twenty-Eight - Chapter Twenty-Nine - Chapter Thirty
“I like that one,” Jack announced. “It's shiny.”
Ianto rolled his eyes and slapped Jack's hand away from the coffee machine he was reaching for.
“No, you don't,” he corrected. “You like this one.”
Jack looked between the two machines, frowning slightly. “What's the difference?” His eyes widened. “Besides four hundred pounds?”
Ianto stepped closer to the display to read the specifications. It was a shame about the old one - and he still wasn't sure he wanted to know exactly how Jack had succeeded in destroying it so thoroughly - but really, it had seen quite a lot of use in its short life, and these new machines were...well...shiny.
Not that he would be telling Jack that, of course, but that was only part of the reason why he was inspecting the specifications so closely.
“You're right,” Jack said. “I don't want that one.” He wrapped an arm around Ianto's waist, more to reassure himself than as a display of affection. “I don't think even you could slip that through expenses.”
“You'd be surprised,” said Ianto dryly, glancing at his lover. “Where do you think the money comes from to repair your coat?”
“Never really thought about it,” Jack shrugged, pulling Ianto closer. Ianto didn't object, but kept his focus on the displays of coffee machines. “Hey, what about this one?” Jack asked then. “It's red.” Ianto didn't look, but he was sure Jack was smirking. “Red's a good look for you.” He lifted his free hand to brush his fingers against Ianto's temple; this was a new trick that Jack had discovered the night before in bed. When he touched Ianto, he could send images, thoughts and feelings to the young psychic through their tough mental shields.
Ianto fought a blush, but felt his cheeks heating at the memory Jack showed him.
“Not here,” he hissed, and Jack laughed as he pulled away. Ianto smoothed down his jacket and checked his watch, aware that it was getting late. Anwen had been reluctant to let Ianto out of her sight, but Ianto had persuaded her with the promise of pastries and Chinese for supper.
“And no,” he added. “Not that one. It only takes one kind of coffee, look.”
“Ianto, my knowledge of coffee is limited to knowing that yours is the best,” said Jack, and Ianto rolled his eyes again. “What? It is. I've lived a long time, and been across the universe, but yours is the best coffee I've ever tasted.”
“You want something,” said Ianto after a moment's scrutiny. “What is it?” Jack tried, and failed, to look innocent. “No, come on.”
“It's a compliment,” said Jack, still aiming for innocent. “You like compliments, right?”
Ianto folded his arms and ignored the lure of the coffee machines. “No,” he said. “Not when you've got an ulterior motive.” He narrowed his eyes. “What have you done?” he demanded suspiciously.
“Nothing,” Jack claimed. Ianto lifted one eyebrow, and Jack sighed. “Well, nothing bad, honest.” He clasped his hands behind his back and avoided Ianto's eyes. “I might have...well, okay, I did...”
“Did what?” Ianto said, snapping off the words.
“Made an appointment with an estate agent,” Jack mumbled. Ianto stared at him, dropped his hands to his side, and then rested them on his hips. He didn't say anything, and Jack fidgeted a little. “Well, you keep saying your place isn't big enough for my stuff,” he said. “And it's not, really, and you don't have a spare room, and I'm sort of assuming Anwen will stay with you for a while, and...”
“Jack,” said Ianto, holding up a hand to stop the flow of words. “Are you asking to move in with me?”
“Thought I was, yeah.”
“Right.” Ianto looked at him for a moment longer, and then turned back to the coffee machines. “This one,” he announced, lifting a box. “It's an upgraded model of the old one.”
“Ianto,” said Jack, stepping close to him again, “that's not an answer.”
“No, it's not,” said Ianto, handing the box over to Jack. “It would be a big change, Jack. You haven't lived outside the Hub in twenty years.”
“No, but I haven't wanted to,” Jack was quick to point out. “Even before I took over, I didn't want to be far from the Rift in case the Doctor showed up. That's not true anymore.”
“And what about leaving the Hub unmanned?” Ianto inquired, checking his watch again. Half an hour before Anwen would start worrying, he estimated, which wasn't nearly long enough for this discussion, but he doubted Jack would let it go now.
“Well, I was thinking of hiring more people,” said Jack unexpectedly. “More than we had, I mean. We were stretched with five of us, and the Rift is more and more active. With you going part-time to take care of Four, we're going to need more staff.”
“I agree,” said Ianto, directing Jack towards the checkout. Jack followed him almost eagerly, and Ianto had to bite back a smile. “I'm not sure I follow your logic, however,” he went on. “More staff meaning shifts, presumably?” Jack nodded. “And you'd be happy leaving the Hub for more than a few hours at a time?”
“I wouldn't have made the appointment if I didn't think I could do it, Ianto,” said Jack impatiently. “I can cancel if you want.”
“Jack.” Ianto turned to face him, still straight-faced. “I gave you a key to my home.”
Jack looked confused. “Yeah,” he said, drawing the word out. “I know. That's kind of why I thought -”
“Jack,” Ianto cut him off, “exchanging keys is generally a good indication that a couple wants to live together.” He took the box from Jack and put it on the counter. “It'll be difficult finding somewhere near the bay, though,” he added. “Don't expect it to happen overnight, no matter how many estate agents you charm.”
Jack's arms slid around his waist and Ianto made a rather undignified sound as he tried to get free. The girl at the till giggled as she rang up his purchase, but otherwise said nothing when Jack spun Ianto around and kissed him deeply.
“You,” he said when at last they parted, breathless, “are a tease, Ianto Jones.”
“On the contrary, I always follow through,” Ianto returned, and Jack turned serious.
“I know,” he said. “You keep your promises, if you possibly can.” He kissed Ianto again. “So do I, you know.”
“I know.” Ianto turned back to pay for the new coffee machine, ignoring the way Jack's hands stayed at his waist. Then Jack's phone rang, and he moved away to answer it as Ianto entered his PIN number and took the bag.
“Ianto - up for a Weevil hunt?” Jack asked. He was grinning, his face alight with anticipation.
“You do realise that isn't actually a euphemism, yes?” Ianto inquired, tucking his wallet back into his inside pocket. “It is just hunting Weevils.”
“Oh, you love it as much as I do,” scoffed Jack. “C'mon, it's not far.”
“But my coffee machine,” said Ianto, rather forlornly. He sighed and turned back to the girl at the counter, putting the bag down again. “I'll have to pick it up later,” he told her.
“No problem,” she said. “What name should I put down?”
“Torchwood,” said Jack authoritatively. “Come on, Ianto.”
Ianto rolled his eyes, gave the girl an apologetic smile, and followed Jack.
* * *
Finis
Comments are love. Sorry it's later than I said, I forgot I was going in to London to see 'Oliver' again...oops? *laughs*
Additional notes: This originally grew out of simply the image of Ianto and a soldier pointing guns at each other in the Hub, and Jack accidentally quoting 'The Shawshank Redemption' (none of you caught that, lol...and how many of you are now going back to find it? :p). Then Caz prodded, and Ianto prodded, and there you go. Anwen and Elen were born, Dave and John were born...Abby and Gemma were born and then shortly thereafter died...
Thanks as always to everyone who's taken the time to review, particularly those of you who've made interesting/thoughtful/insightful comments (you know who you are, mostly 'cos I've replied to you :p). Thanks again to cazmalfoy and et_muse for beta-reading, to kharma2815 for reasons she knows, and to anyone else who let me talk their ear off about how mean Ianto was being to himself.
And thanks, as ever, to my better half steviesun .
EDITED to add: Oops, forgot to mention a sequel's in the works. It's late, I'm tired, I have a crush on Burn, so sue me :P
Rating: R/MA - contains violence, language and sexual references.
Length: ~48,000 words
Characters/pairings: Ianto, Jack, Gwen, OCs, mention of Rhys, Tosh and Owen. Jack/Ianto.
Disclaimer: The OCs are mine, anyone and anything you recognise from Torchwood belongs to the BBC.
Notes: Anything up to 'Exit Wounds' for Torchwood, with reference to the events of 'The Stolen Earth' and 'Journey's End' for Doctor Who. AU. Oh so very AU. Even more so once series three starts.
Thanks to: the lovely cazmalfoy and et_muse for beta-reading and general poking.
Summary: 'This is Torchwood Three...Torchwood Four's kinda gone missing, but we'll find it one day.' Torchwood One wasn't the first job Ianto had - wasn't the first Torchwood branch he worked for. Now his past is coming back to put everyone he loves in danger.
Chapter One - Chapter Two - Chapter Three - Chapter Four - Chapter Five - Chapter Six - Chapter Seven - Chapter Eight - Chapter Nine - Chapter Ten - Chapter Eleven - Chapter Twelve - Chapter Thirteen - Chapter Fourteen - Chapter Fifteen - Chapter Sixteen - Chapter Seventeen - Chapter Eighteen - Chapter Nineteen - Chapter Twenty - Chapter Twenty-One - Chapter Twenty-Two - Chapter Twenty-Three - Chapter Twenty-Four - Chapter Twenty-Five - Chapter Twenty-Six - Chapter Twenty-Seven - Chapter Twenty-Eight - Chapter Twenty-Nine - Chapter Thirty
“I like that one,” Jack announced. “It's shiny.”
Ianto rolled his eyes and slapped Jack's hand away from the coffee machine he was reaching for.
“No, you don't,” he corrected. “You like this one.”
Jack looked between the two machines, frowning slightly. “What's the difference?” His eyes widened. “Besides four hundred pounds?”
Ianto stepped closer to the display to read the specifications. It was a shame about the old one - and he still wasn't sure he wanted to know exactly how Jack had succeeded in destroying it so thoroughly - but really, it had seen quite a lot of use in its short life, and these new machines were...well...shiny.
Not that he would be telling Jack that, of course, but that was only part of the reason why he was inspecting the specifications so closely.
“You're right,” Jack said. “I don't want that one.” He wrapped an arm around Ianto's waist, more to reassure himself than as a display of affection. “I don't think even you could slip that through expenses.”
“You'd be surprised,” said Ianto dryly, glancing at his lover. “Where do you think the money comes from to repair your coat?”
“Never really thought about it,” Jack shrugged, pulling Ianto closer. Ianto didn't object, but kept his focus on the displays of coffee machines. “Hey, what about this one?” Jack asked then. “It's red.” Ianto didn't look, but he was sure Jack was smirking. “Red's a good look for you.” He lifted his free hand to brush his fingers against Ianto's temple; this was a new trick that Jack had discovered the night before in bed. When he touched Ianto, he could send images, thoughts and feelings to the young psychic through their tough mental shields.
Ianto fought a blush, but felt his cheeks heating at the memory Jack showed him.
“Not here,” he hissed, and Jack laughed as he pulled away. Ianto smoothed down his jacket and checked his watch, aware that it was getting late. Anwen had been reluctant to let Ianto out of her sight, but Ianto had persuaded her with the promise of pastries and Chinese for supper.
“And no,” he added. “Not that one. It only takes one kind of coffee, look.”
“Ianto, my knowledge of coffee is limited to knowing that yours is the best,” said Jack, and Ianto rolled his eyes again. “What? It is. I've lived a long time, and been across the universe, but yours is the best coffee I've ever tasted.”
“You want something,” said Ianto after a moment's scrutiny. “What is it?” Jack tried, and failed, to look innocent. “No, come on.”
“It's a compliment,” said Jack, still aiming for innocent. “You like compliments, right?”
Ianto folded his arms and ignored the lure of the coffee machines. “No,” he said. “Not when you've got an ulterior motive.” He narrowed his eyes. “What have you done?” he demanded suspiciously.
“Nothing,” Jack claimed. Ianto lifted one eyebrow, and Jack sighed. “Well, nothing bad, honest.” He clasped his hands behind his back and avoided Ianto's eyes. “I might have...well, okay, I did...”
“Did what?” Ianto said, snapping off the words.
“Made an appointment with an estate agent,” Jack mumbled. Ianto stared at him, dropped his hands to his side, and then rested them on his hips. He didn't say anything, and Jack fidgeted a little. “Well, you keep saying your place isn't big enough for my stuff,” he said. “And it's not, really, and you don't have a spare room, and I'm sort of assuming Anwen will stay with you for a while, and...”
“Jack,” said Ianto, holding up a hand to stop the flow of words. “Are you asking to move in with me?”
“Thought I was, yeah.”
“Right.” Ianto looked at him for a moment longer, and then turned back to the coffee machines. “This one,” he announced, lifting a box. “It's an upgraded model of the old one.”
“Ianto,” said Jack, stepping close to him again, “that's not an answer.”
“No, it's not,” said Ianto, handing the box over to Jack. “It would be a big change, Jack. You haven't lived outside the Hub in twenty years.”
“No, but I haven't wanted to,” Jack was quick to point out. “Even before I took over, I didn't want to be far from the Rift in case the Doctor showed up. That's not true anymore.”
“And what about leaving the Hub unmanned?” Ianto inquired, checking his watch again. Half an hour before Anwen would start worrying, he estimated, which wasn't nearly long enough for this discussion, but he doubted Jack would let it go now.
“Well, I was thinking of hiring more people,” said Jack unexpectedly. “More than we had, I mean. We were stretched with five of us, and the Rift is more and more active. With you going part-time to take care of Four, we're going to need more staff.”
“I agree,” said Ianto, directing Jack towards the checkout. Jack followed him almost eagerly, and Ianto had to bite back a smile. “I'm not sure I follow your logic, however,” he went on. “More staff meaning shifts, presumably?” Jack nodded. “And you'd be happy leaving the Hub for more than a few hours at a time?”
“I wouldn't have made the appointment if I didn't think I could do it, Ianto,” said Jack impatiently. “I can cancel if you want.”
“Jack.” Ianto turned to face him, still straight-faced. “I gave you a key to my home.”
Jack looked confused. “Yeah,” he said, drawing the word out. “I know. That's kind of why I thought -”
“Jack,” Ianto cut him off, “exchanging keys is generally a good indication that a couple wants to live together.” He took the box from Jack and put it on the counter. “It'll be difficult finding somewhere near the bay, though,” he added. “Don't expect it to happen overnight, no matter how many estate agents you charm.”
Jack's arms slid around his waist and Ianto made a rather undignified sound as he tried to get free. The girl at the till giggled as she rang up his purchase, but otherwise said nothing when Jack spun Ianto around and kissed him deeply.
“You,” he said when at last they parted, breathless, “are a tease, Ianto Jones.”
“On the contrary, I always follow through,” Ianto returned, and Jack turned serious.
“I know,” he said. “You keep your promises, if you possibly can.” He kissed Ianto again. “So do I, you know.”
“I know.” Ianto turned back to pay for the new coffee machine, ignoring the way Jack's hands stayed at his waist. Then Jack's phone rang, and he moved away to answer it as Ianto entered his PIN number and took the bag.
“Ianto - up for a Weevil hunt?” Jack asked. He was grinning, his face alight with anticipation.
“You do realise that isn't actually a euphemism, yes?” Ianto inquired, tucking his wallet back into his inside pocket. “It is just hunting Weevils.”
“Oh, you love it as much as I do,” scoffed Jack. “C'mon, it's not far.”
“But my coffee machine,” said Ianto, rather forlornly. He sighed and turned back to the girl at the counter, putting the bag down again. “I'll have to pick it up later,” he told her.
“No problem,” she said. “What name should I put down?”
“Torchwood,” said Jack authoritatively. “Come on, Ianto.”
Ianto rolled his eyes, gave the girl an apologetic smile, and followed Jack.
* * *
Finis
Comments are love. Sorry it's later than I said, I forgot I was going in to London to see 'Oliver' again...oops? *laughs*
Additional notes: This originally grew out of simply the image of Ianto and a soldier pointing guns at each other in the Hub, and Jack accidentally quoting 'The Shawshank Redemption' (none of you caught that, lol...and how many of you are now going back to find it? :p). Then Caz prodded, and Ianto prodded, and there you go. Anwen and Elen were born, Dave and John were born...Abby and Gemma were born and then shortly thereafter died...
Thanks as always to everyone who's taken the time to review, particularly those of you who've made interesting/thoughtful/insightful comments (you know who you are, mostly 'cos I've replied to you :p). Thanks again to cazmalfoy and et_muse for beta-reading, to kharma2815 for reasons she knows, and to anyone else who let me talk their ear off about how mean Ianto was being to himself.
And thanks, as ever, to my better half steviesun .
EDITED to add: Oops, forgot to mention a sequel's in the works. It's late, I'm tired, I have a crush on Burn, so sue me :P