(Untitled)

[song_n_dance]

After the war was over, Cole had often told people at parties that he'd served in the French Foreign Legion, which an outright lie (though he told the story with such playfulness that he couldn't imagine anyone believed it anyway), even if he did have a number of fancy dress uniforms tucked away in a closet that were fun to trot out on occasion.

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[captainjack]

"Swearing. The next thing you know, you'll be smoking and drinking," a teasing voice came from behind him. "And then you'll be lost to your vices."

Jack stepped closer and sat backward on the bench, nudging Cole over so he could see his face.

"How are you feeling?"

[song_n_dance]

"Oh, I've been better," Cole sighed, then quirked a smile and added, "Though better now that you're here." He patted Jack's leg. "I've been wanting to thank you properly. I'm afraid I wasn't in a very coherent state during the ordeal."

[captainjack]

"That tends to happen when you get shot," he shrugged. "You're welcome...but don't worry about it. I've done stupider things than run towards a gun fight, I'm just glad that I got to you while you could still walk."

[song_n_dance]

"Yeah, I wouldn't want to have to carry me either," Cole chuckled. Then suddenly a little more somber, "I know you probably don't want to make a big thing of it, but still..." He brought his good hand up to Jack's cheek, resting his palm there.

He sighed. "I never seem to have the right words in real life."

[captainjack]

The touch was rewarded with a warm smile. "You don't need to say anything at all," Jack assured him. "I get it. I might have gotten shot before."

Maybe not in the arm. Maybe somewhere a bit more fatal, but still...shot.

[song_n_dance]

Oh, to hell with it, Cole thought. After all, tomorrow he might get shot in the head. And he did say something about thanking him properly.

And so he leaned in and kissed Jack--properly. Not the chaste, friendly-just-verging-on-intimate kisses they'd been sharing since arriving on the island, but the sort of kiss he'd never have dared share with a man in public back home.

[captainjack]

He lifted a hand to hold Cole's jaw lightly in his palm. Jack had no problem with kissing in plain sight of everyone, so even though he was a little surprised, he returned it with all the affection and enthusiasm he'd kept restrained.

[song_n_dance]

When Cole pulled away, his breathing was slightly ragged, face slightly flushed, unable to remember when he'd last had a kiss like that. "Forgive me, Jack, I hope that was not... unwelcome."

[captainjack]

Jack grinned, eyebrow arching just so. "Did you get the impression I didn't like it?" he asked. "Maybe you should try it again."

He slipped his hand back and caught the man by the back of his neck and leaned in again. There was little doubt that it was both welcome and appreciated.

[song_n_dance]

"No, I - " But Cole had no opportunity to protest because there was another kiss, even better than the first, and Cole was finally realizing that Jack was being entirely truthful when he said that he was not the same Jack that Cole knew from back home. Jack Wilson's kisses were not like this--he was more tentative, more hesitant, a touch reverent. This was something else entirely.

[captainjack]

Hesitant and tentative were hardly in Jack's vocabulary. After the excitement of the boarding house and the thrill of the TARDIS opening up, Jack was more enthusiastic about life than usual.

He kissed Cole until it was just a breath from being obscene, then backed away with a broad smile and a mischevious glint in his eyes.

"Better now that I'm here, you said?" he teased. "I can't imagine why."

[song_n_dance]

Cole was breathless by now, his eyes wide, and he felt like some stupid schoolboy stealing his first kiss. "My god, Jack." And after that, he had nothing.

"I... once again, you've left me at a loss for words."

[captainjack]

"Then play something," he suggested, jutting his chin toward the keys.

[song_n_dance]

Cole looked towards the keys, then shook his head, gesturing to the sling. "You don't want me to insult you with one-handed plinking."

[captainjack]

"And I can't play, so..." Jack shrugged and licked his lips. "I guess we'll have to do something other than music for a change."

[song_n_dance]

Cole swallowed hard and said, "I suppose we'll just have to make do." He grabbed Jack's hand and brought it to his lips, brushing them against his knuckles. "Though as soon as I'm functional again, I'm going to write a song for you."