Actually, I quit. No one takes my frock.

[captainjack]

There were only so many things to do in a day, and Jack had done most of them. Most. Sure, he'd missed out on some expert flirting, and the bookshelf had decided he needed books about what to do when the honeymoon was over and coping with memory loss. Those, and one can of film.

He'd seen it. It really wasn't his shining moment, but it was...well

Comments

[coffee_sir]

Attracted to the rec room by the passingly familiar dialogue and the very familiar voice, Ianto popped in just as Jack appeared on the screen, straddling a rather large missile.

"Even you have to admit," he said, gently chiding as he strolled in and sat himself next to Jack, "That that was a bit much."

As soon as he had settled, one small dog trotted into the room, having been distracted by an interesting smell in the hallway, but eager to find her master once again. Finding Jack as well, she eagerly stood up on her hind legs to lean her paws on his knees.

[captainjack]

"Oh, come on," Jack laughed. "I'm sure the sybolism was lost on the viewing public."

He reached down and pushed the pup off his leg absently. "You've got to admit, I look good, even riding a bomb."

[coffee_sir]

Ianto lifted an incredulous eyebrow but shook his head. "You always look good," he replied. "That's not the point. Do you really have to make such a show about saving the world?" The question was meant to be as playfully teasing as a sentence could be, but delivered in Ianto's rather dry tone.

Banon, though enthusiastic and young, was not dumb and seeing she would receive no succor from Jack, she immediately sought attention at Ianto's knees. He, of course, picked her up and let her burrow between the cushions of the sofa away from Jack.

[captainjack]

"It's hard being this dashing and brave," he laughed. It was hard to take himself seriously, to be honest. He really didn't know what had possessed him to decide to sacrifice himself for the earth. He could have dropped that bomb someplace, but no. He'd kept it in stasis and flew into space. Idiotic.

"How's things?"

[coffee_sir]

"But you seem to manage it with such effortless ease," Ianto replied. "You should write a book and sell your secret."

At the question, he blinked and looked up, considering his answer before actually giving it. "Good, actually. Thankfully. Charlie and I had a bit of a row, but that's over now." Practically no breath was taken between that statement and the next. "Do you know Donald Maclean? Here, not from the history books. Or from history."

[captainjack]

"I've met him once, but I'd met him when he was in Paris," Jack replied. "If I wrote a book, he'd be in it. With illustrations. Why? Does he have something to do with the row?"

[coffee_sir]

Looking somewhat less relaxed now, a frown on his face, Ianto shrugged and attempted to pretend everything was fine. And it was. It wasn't the end of the world. But he worried.

"Charlie's dating him," he explained, letting his eyes wander as he continued. "I.. don't think she even knows what socialism is and... when I was explaining his history I might have made Stalin sound like the Devil and Donald his henchman."

[captainjack]

"I didn't realize you were so political, Ianto," he answered quickly. His brows furrowed as he leaned closer. "Belief in something can make you do questionable things, sometimes. Doesn't make them wrong."

[coffee_sir]

"That's not the point I was trying to make," Ianto answered quickly, wide-eyed gaze shooting back to Jack.

"God know I can't judge him," he said. "But he didn't explain anything of what he did, the consequences of what he did, to Charlie beyond that he was a spy. So either he was taking advantage of her ignorance, or he really is that stupid," Ianto figured decisively. "I just want to know which. For my own peace of mind, so I know what to prepare for. Since I can't stop her from doing anything."

[captainjack]

Jack licked his lips slowly and looked back at the screen. "He might just want to leave his past behind him."

Thank you computer...

[coffee_sir]

"Our past makes us who we are, Jack," he responded evenly. "Shining on most of the world, that's fine. But if he's starting something serious with Charlie, he can't not tell her these things."

Ianto glanced over at the screen, noting Jack's seeming lack of attention, and continued. "You can't honestly believe that we're a better team, in the future, for not knowing shit about you. You know it doesn't work that way."

[captainjack]

"Okay, I'll give you that," he nodded. "I just..."

He took a breath and looked over at Ianto, debating if he should say anything more. He decided quickly.

"She's got you to look out for her. I'm sure she'll be fine."

[coffee_sir]

Ianto lifted an eyebrow. He thought he had done right. Mentioning the deaths of millions of people had been overkill, clearly, but making sure Charlie was informed had been the proper intention. Only it didn't seem that way with the way everything was falling out, and he trusted Jack's judgment. Especially in situations such as these.

"You just what?" he prompted.

[captainjack]

He shrugged and gestured to the screen. "I'm not exactly the guy to criticize someone for a shady past."

[coffee_sir]

"This isn't criticizing," Ianto said, falling back into the sofa. "I just want to know if he's an idiot or not."

He blinked, then looked at Jack again. "Is it just criticism?"

[captainjack]

"I don't know, is it?" he answered, turning to look at Ianto. "I don't think if you asked him directly you'd get what you want to know."

It's a con. I was conning you. That's what I am. I'm a con man, echoed in his memory, and Jack smiled. "But there are ways. What do you want to know?"