Fic: A Song as Old as Time. Jack/Ianto.
Title: A Song as old as time (11 of 13)
FanFic_50 Prompt: Feel
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: This part PG13, over all pg13.
Summary: A chance visit to a bar and the unexpected arrival of an old acquaintance raises a lot questions for Jack and creates a dangerous situation for Ianto.
Notes: This is set during the first series after 1x06 Countrycide, but before 1x08 They Keep Killing Suzie. I know that it's been ages since I posted any of this, but it really hasn't been abandoned, and I do intend to complete.
part one part two part three part four part five
part six part seven part eight part nine part ten
By the time Jack looks round trying to find the source of the attack and wishing that he was armed, Ianto is already running, sprinting after a young Devor who has just thrown down a crossbow like weapon and is trying to make his escape.
The chase is short, and the Devor barely makes it to the edge of the gardens before Ianto catches up with him, tackling him and bringing them both crashing to the ground. They scuffle for a moment, striking out indiscriminately, until Grell’s bodyguards reach them and drag the Devor off of Ianto, pining his hands behind his back.
Everything seems to be happening at once and by the time Jack looks down at Grell the shipmother has run to kneel at his side, pressing her hand over the still bleeding wound in his neck. A wound that Jack knows would have been instantly fatal were it not for quirk of Devorian physiology that means that don’t have a single, main artery in their neck, but four smaller ones.
The elders and the guards are talking rapidly to each other, and although Jack’s limited grasp of Devorian fails him, he can still understand the main focus of the conversation: they are wondering what’s happening and what the hell were they going to do about it.
On the other side of the garden Jubel has picked up his daughter, holding her close, shielding her from what’s happening. He glances briefly at Jack before hurrying for one of the exits.
Jack is about to call out to him, to tell him wait at the ship for him and Ianto when he feels a hand on his arm, and one of the female elders says, “We have to leave.” She tightens her grip on his coat sleeve, and then reaches up to press one of the gems in the necklace that she is wearing.
Before Jack can say anything there is a familiar flash of blue light and the faint scent of ozone as the cityscape around him disappears. An instant later he, Ianto and rest of the Devor are stood in the cargo bay of a large Devor ship.
Despite the situation Jack smiles, he hadn’t expected them to be using an old delta class teleportation system, he hasn’t seen one of those in years, it brings back a lot of memories. School science projects and a very inventive way to get around the problem of getting in to the bedroom of a one time girlfriend who’s family disapproved of him too much to let him in via any conventional means, such as the door. She’d definitely been worth it as well: he’d never been able to look at tentacles in quite the same way since that night with Xelsho.
There is no time for reminiscences though as there’s a flurry of movement and shouting as Grell’s would be assassin is hauled away by the guards and Grell is laid carefully on the floor, the shipmother still trying to stop the wound in his neck from bleeding.
Jack doubts if as much as two full minutes have passed from the time that the shot was fired to them arriving in the Devor ship. The fact that it had been a silent weapon had meant than none of Aphelion’s considerable security forces had been alerted, a fact for which Jack is grateful. He hopes that the situation stays that way.
“What just happened? Were are we?” Ianto is looking around, eyes wide and not a little frightened.
Jack is relieved than none of the Devor get in his way as he pushes past them, to stand at Ianto’s side. “It’s alright.” He puts a steadying hand on Ianto’s back as he reaches him, “It was just a teleport.”
Ianto nods, although he really doesn’t look any calmer, before stepping closer to Jack and leaning into his touch, asking quietly, “Do you think Jubel will leave us here?”
Jack sighs, he really wishes that he could tell Ianto that Jubel would never do such a thing, but he can’t, because it is exactly the sort of thing that Jubel would do. Instead he smiles reassuringly, or at least he hopes it reassuringly, before saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll get us home.”
Ianto just nods again, carefully not meeting Jack’s eyes.
Jack is about to try to reassure Ianto again when the female elder who’d been responsible for teleporting him places her hand on his arm again, saying “Come with me, you’ll only be in the way here”
“Hey, you were the one that brought us here.” Jack doesn’t bother to hide his annoyance as he shrugs her hand for his arm.
“Just come with me,” she says with the air of a person long used to dealing with people who ask too many stupid questions.
Following her, Jack surprised and not a little touched as he feels Ianto slip his hand into his, although he doesn’t show it as he takes note of their route leave the storage bay and walk down a series of corridors until they reach door.
Stopping, she opens the door and escorts them into what appears to be a reception room, saying, “Wait here.”
“And why should we do that?”
“It is just so you are not in the way. Do not worry, you are not prisoners.”
“Then we’re free to go?” Jack moves back closer to the door.
“Technically you are, ” she says to Jack, before turning to Ianto, “But you need to stay. You need to tell the council what you saw, and how them you caught Grell’s would be assassin.”
“Oh, right.” Ianto runs a hand through his hair, a gesture that Jack has come to know means Ianto is stressed. “How long should that take?”
She seems to think for a moment before replying, “Given the severity of Grell’s injuries and the fact that Vron was seen committing the crime I would think no more than two to three hours, then you can both be on your way.”
She smiles, “So there is no cause for worry, the Devor are grateful to you, to you both. Now there are things that I need to attend to, to call the council for Vron’s trial.” She turns to leave. “I have sent for food for you, and you will be told when your presence is required by the council.”
“I suppose we just wait then,” Ianto says miserably, sitting down on one of the bench seats that line three of the four walls of the room.
“We wait.” Jack wishes that there was something else that he could do, but there’s nothing. If Jubel is going to leave them behind Jack knows he’ll be gone before they can get back down to Aphelion. And trying to run out on the trial to catch him wouldn’t be a smart move. No they just have to wait.
Jack supposes that he should be grateful that the Devor don't go in for long extended trial and court procedures, and that the situation with Grell and his would be assassin will be dealt with swiftly - the Devor legal system is fast, with little room for mercy and no real chance of appeal.
Pacing around the room, Jack tries to calm his nerves about Jubel, and the fact that now he's got his daughter he will probably just run and not look back, leaving him and Ianto with no way back home. Once, Jack knows, he would have has more trust, more faith, but long hard years have stripped that from him.
The fear that they’ve been abandoned here light years from home with no money, no transport and no contacts to get any, seems to grow with each circuit of the room. Jack knows that this is in no way similar to what happened to him aboard the Gamestation, but the feeling of abandonment, of rejection by a friend, is hard to push back into perspective.
He digs his hands into his coat pockets, trying to calm himself. He knows he’s got to start thinking objectively if he’s going to come up with a plan to get them home if Jubel does leave them behind. Nothing really comes to mind though, nothing that isn’t dangerous, inadvisable or ridiculously complicated. He’s also got Ianto to consider, and that limits what he can do, the risks he can take, because he can’t place Ianto in danger or risk becoming separated from him.
It’s on about the thirtieth traverse of the room, still with no plan, and with rapidly fraying nerves that Ianto snaps at him, “Will you stop that!”
Looking round he sees Ianto sat hunched one of the long couches, his hands clenched tightly in his lap, his whole posture suggesting barely contained panic.
Walking over to him Jack sits down beside him, putting an arm about his shoulders, concerned at how scared Ianto looks. “Sorry, I was just trying to come up with plan.”
Ianto flinches at the contact, trying to push him away, “Don’t do that.”
“Why? What did I do?” Jack lowers his arm, trying unsuccessfully to keep the hurt from his voice, suddenly sure that Ianto is blaming him for this whole mess.
“You’re worrying. I’m trying to block it out, but…” Ianto stops and takes a couple of deep breaths before continuing, “You really aren’t making this easy.”
The realisation that it’s his own negative feelings that are effecting Ianto, whose lack of training in his empath abilities means that he is basically unable to shield himself, hits fast, and Jack tries to push down the stronger of his negative emotions.
Blocking his thoughts so telepaths can’t hear has become second nature to Jack, it was something that all Time Agents were taught to do early on in their training. He’d not been anymore than adequate at it, but it had generally been enough to get by with most humans. Blocking the projection of emotions is more difficult, but Jack knows he’s got to try, at least until they get out of this and he can give Ianto some basic training in how to shield himself better.
“It’s okay, you going to be okay,” Jack says softly, taking off his greatcoat and wrapping it around Ianto. Trying not to worry about how cold and shaky Ianto’s hands are as he pulls the coat tightly about him, Jack moves to sit at the other end of the sofa, knowing that Ianto need space to get his emotions back under control.
It takes a while, but once Ianto has stopped shivering and he no longer looks like he’s on the verge of having a panic attack, Jack moves closer and puts his arm around him, and asks, “You feel up to telling me what just happened?”
Nodding, Ianto leans against Jack’s shoulder and closes his eyes. “It’s you. I mean it’s not you’re fault, but it you. I don’t know how or why but it’s like everything around you is magnified, is more alive, more real.” He shakes his head wearily, “And I’m tired, it’s always harder to block out if I’m tired.”
“I’m sorry.” A scant few hours ago Jack knows that he’d promised that he wouldn’t do anything to hurt Ianto, yet he has, he’s broken that promise already, his own fears about their situation causing him harm.
Opening his eyes Ianto and gives Jack an exhausted look, before saying, “Please don’t start guilt tripping your self about this, it really won’t help - you or me.”
“I’ll try.” Jack gives him a reassuring smile, “You should get some sleep, believe me it’ll help.”
Ianto looks warily at the door, and then back at Jack, “Are you sure that’s a such a good idea?”
“Yeah. I’ll keep watch, wake you if anything happens.” Jack gets up from the sofa allowing Ianto room to lie down.
Any protest as to the sense of Jack’s decision Ianto might have made it is cut off as he yawns loudly, before looking a little embarrassed. “Maybe you’re right.”
“Usually am.” Jack strokes his hand through Ianto’s hair, wanting to reassure him that it’s safe for him to sleep.
Ianto looks a little surprised at the gesture, but doesn’t comment, falling asleep almost as soon as he’s lying down.
Moving to lean against the wall by the door, Jack watches as Ianto sleeps, still wrapped tightly in the greatcoat, his head pillowed on his arms. Just how young and vulnerable Ianto looks as he sleeps surprises Jack, while the frowns that flicker occasionally across his face make Jack want to chase away whatever fears plague him.
Young, but life having made him old beyond his years, damaged yet still so strong, passionate but reserved, Ianto fascinates him. Jack knows that he’s letting himself get in too deep is probably a terrible idea that will only end up breaking his heart. But looking at Ianto now, Jack knows that it’s a risk he’s willing to take.
Twelve: http://the-silver-sun.livejournal.com/178423.html
FanFic_50 Prompt: Feel
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: This part PG13, over all pg13.
Summary: A chance visit to a bar and the unexpected arrival of an old acquaintance raises a lot questions for Jack and creates a dangerous situation for Ianto.
Notes: This is set during the first series after 1x06 Countrycide, but before 1x08 They Keep Killing Suzie. I know that it's been ages since I posted any of this, but it really hasn't been abandoned, and I do intend to complete.
part one part two part three part four part five
part six part seven part eight part nine part ten
By the time Jack looks round trying to find the source of the attack and wishing that he was armed, Ianto is already running, sprinting after a young Devor who has just thrown down a crossbow like weapon and is trying to make his escape.
The chase is short, and the Devor barely makes it to the edge of the gardens before Ianto catches up with him, tackling him and bringing them both crashing to the ground. They scuffle for a moment, striking out indiscriminately, until Grell’s bodyguards reach them and drag the Devor off of Ianto, pining his hands behind his back.
Everything seems to be happening at once and by the time Jack looks down at Grell the shipmother has run to kneel at his side, pressing her hand over the still bleeding wound in his neck. A wound that Jack knows would have been instantly fatal were it not for quirk of Devorian physiology that means that don’t have a single, main artery in their neck, but four smaller ones.
The elders and the guards are talking rapidly to each other, and although Jack’s limited grasp of Devorian fails him, he can still understand the main focus of the conversation: they are wondering what’s happening and what the hell were they going to do about it.
On the other side of the garden Jubel has picked up his daughter, holding her close, shielding her from what’s happening. He glances briefly at Jack before hurrying for one of the exits.
Jack is about to call out to him, to tell him wait at the ship for him and Ianto when he feels a hand on his arm, and one of the female elders says, “We have to leave.” She tightens her grip on his coat sleeve, and then reaches up to press one of the gems in the necklace that she is wearing.
Before Jack can say anything there is a familiar flash of blue light and the faint scent of ozone as the cityscape around him disappears. An instant later he, Ianto and rest of the Devor are stood in the cargo bay of a large Devor ship.
Despite the situation Jack smiles, he hadn’t expected them to be using an old delta class teleportation system, he hasn’t seen one of those in years, it brings back a lot of memories. School science projects and a very inventive way to get around the problem of getting in to the bedroom of a one time girlfriend who’s family disapproved of him too much to let him in via any conventional means, such as the door. She’d definitely been worth it as well: he’d never been able to look at tentacles in quite the same way since that night with Xelsho.
There is no time for reminiscences though as there’s a flurry of movement and shouting as Grell’s would be assassin is hauled away by the guards and Grell is laid carefully on the floor, the shipmother still trying to stop the wound in his neck from bleeding.
Jack doubts if as much as two full minutes have passed from the time that the shot was fired to them arriving in the Devor ship. The fact that it had been a silent weapon had meant than none of Aphelion’s considerable security forces had been alerted, a fact for which Jack is grateful. He hopes that the situation stays that way.
“What just happened? Were are we?” Ianto is looking around, eyes wide and not a little frightened.
Jack is relieved than none of the Devor get in his way as he pushes past them, to stand at Ianto’s side. “It’s alright.” He puts a steadying hand on Ianto’s back as he reaches him, “It was just a teleport.”
Ianto nods, although he really doesn’t look any calmer, before stepping closer to Jack and leaning into his touch, asking quietly, “Do you think Jubel will leave us here?”
Jack sighs, he really wishes that he could tell Ianto that Jubel would never do such a thing, but he can’t, because it is exactly the sort of thing that Jubel would do. Instead he smiles reassuringly, or at least he hopes it reassuringly, before saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll get us home.”
Ianto just nods again, carefully not meeting Jack’s eyes.
Jack is about to try to reassure Ianto again when the female elder who’d been responsible for teleporting him places her hand on his arm again, saying “Come with me, you’ll only be in the way here”
“Hey, you were the one that brought us here.” Jack doesn’t bother to hide his annoyance as he shrugs her hand for his arm.
“Just come with me,” she says with the air of a person long used to dealing with people who ask too many stupid questions.
Following her, Jack surprised and not a little touched as he feels Ianto slip his hand into his, although he doesn’t show it as he takes note of their route leave the storage bay and walk down a series of corridors until they reach door.
Stopping, she opens the door and escorts them into what appears to be a reception room, saying, “Wait here.”
“And why should we do that?”
“It is just so you are not in the way. Do not worry, you are not prisoners.”
“Then we’re free to go?” Jack moves back closer to the door.
“Technically you are, ” she says to Jack, before turning to Ianto, “But you need to stay. You need to tell the council what you saw, and how them you caught Grell’s would be assassin.”
“Oh, right.” Ianto runs a hand through his hair, a gesture that Jack has come to know means Ianto is stressed. “How long should that take?”
She seems to think for a moment before replying, “Given the severity of Grell’s injuries and the fact that Vron was seen committing the crime I would think no more than two to three hours, then you can both be on your way.”
She smiles, “So there is no cause for worry, the Devor are grateful to you, to you both. Now there are things that I need to attend to, to call the council for Vron’s trial.” She turns to leave. “I have sent for food for you, and you will be told when your presence is required by the council.”
“I suppose we just wait then,” Ianto says miserably, sitting down on one of the bench seats that line three of the four walls of the room.
“We wait.” Jack wishes that there was something else that he could do, but there’s nothing. If Jubel is going to leave them behind Jack knows he’ll be gone before they can get back down to Aphelion. And trying to run out on the trial to catch him wouldn’t be a smart move. No they just have to wait.
Jack supposes that he should be grateful that the Devor don't go in for long extended trial and court procedures, and that the situation with Grell and his would be assassin will be dealt with swiftly - the Devor legal system is fast, with little room for mercy and no real chance of appeal.
Pacing around the room, Jack tries to calm his nerves about Jubel, and the fact that now he's got his daughter he will probably just run and not look back, leaving him and Ianto with no way back home. Once, Jack knows, he would have has more trust, more faith, but long hard years have stripped that from him.
The fear that they’ve been abandoned here light years from home with no money, no transport and no contacts to get any, seems to grow with each circuit of the room. Jack knows that this is in no way similar to what happened to him aboard the Gamestation, but the feeling of abandonment, of rejection by a friend, is hard to push back into perspective.
He digs his hands into his coat pockets, trying to calm himself. He knows he’s got to start thinking objectively if he’s going to come up with a plan to get them home if Jubel does leave them behind. Nothing really comes to mind though, nothing that isn’t dangerous, inadvisable or ridiculously complicated. He’s also got Ianto to consider, and that limits what he can do, the risks he can take, because he can’t place Ianto in danger or risk becoming separated from him.
It’s on about the thirtieth traverse of the room, still with no plan, and with rapidly fraying nerves that Ianto snaps at him, “Will you stop that!”
Looking round he sees Ianto sat hunched one of the long couches, his hands clenched tightly in his lap, his whole posture suggesting barely contained panic.
Walking over to him Jack sits down beside him, putting an arm about his shoulders, concerned at how scared Ianto looks. “Sorry, I was just trying to come up with plan.”
Ianto flinches at the contact, trying to push him away, “Don’t do that.”
“Why? What did I do?” Jack lowers his arm, trying unsuccessfully to keep the hurt from his voice, suddenly sure that Ianto is blaming him for this whole mess.
“You’re worrying. I’m trying to block it out, but…” Ianto stops and takes a couple of deep breaths before continuing, “You really aren’t making this easy.”
The realisation that it’s his own negative feelings that are effecting Ianto, whose lack of training in his empath abilities means that he is basically unable to shield himself, hits fast, and Jack tries to push down the stronger of his negative emotions.
Blocking his thoughts so telepaths can’t hear has become second nature to Jack, it was something that all Time Agents were taught to do early on in their training. He’d not been anymore than adequate at it, but it had generally been enough to get by with most humans. Blocking the projection of emotions is more difficult, but Jack knows he’s got to try, at least until they get out of this and he can give Ianto some basic training in how to shield himself better.
“It’s okay, you going to be okay,” Jack says softly, taking off his greatcoat and wrapping it around Ianto. Trying not to worry about how cold and shaky Ianto’s hands are as he pulls the coat tightly about him, Jack moves to sit at the other end of the sofa, knowing that Ianto need space to get his emotions back under control.
It takes a while, but once Ianto has stopped shivering and he no longer looks like he’s on the verge of having a panic attack, Jack moves closer and puts his arm around him, and asks, “You feel up to telling me what just happened?”
Nodding, Ianto leans against Jack’s shoulder and closes his eyes. “It’s you. I mean it’s not you’re fault, but it you. I don’t know how or why but it’s like everything around you is magnified, is more alive, more real.” He shakes his head wearily, “And I’m tired, it’s always harder to block out if I’m tired.”
“I’m sorry.” A scant few hours ago Jack knows that he’d promised that he wouldn’t do anything to hurt Ianto, yet he has, he’s broken that promise already, his own fears about their situation causing him harm.
Opening his eyes Ianto and gives Jack an exhausted look, before saying, “Please don’t start guilt tripping your self about this, it really won’t help - you or me.”
“I’ll try.” Jack gives him a reassuring smile, “You should get some sleep, believe me it’ll help.”
Ianto looks warily at the door, and then back at Jack, “Are you sure that’s a such a good idea?”
“Yeah. I’ll keep watch, wake you if anything happens.” Jack gets up from the sofa allowing Ianto room to lie down.
Any protest as to the sense of Jack’s decision Ianto might have made it is cut off as he yawns loudly, before looking a little embarrassed. “Maybe you’re right.”
“Usually am.” Jack strokes his hand through Ianto’s hair, wanting to reassure him that it’s safe for him to sleep.
Ianto looks a little surprised at the gesture, but doesn’t comment, falling asleep almost as soon as he’s lying down.
Moving to lean against the wall by the door, Jack watches as Ianto sleeps, still wrapped tightly in the greatcoat, his head pillowed on his arms. Just how young and vulnerable Ianto looks as he sleeps surprises Jack, while the frowns that flicker occasionally across his face make Jack want to chase away whatever fears plague him.
Young, but life having made him old beyond his years, damaged yet still so strong, passionate but reserved, Ianto fascinates him. Jack knows that he’s letting himself get in too deep is probably a terrible idea that will only end up breaking his heart. But looking at Ianto now, Jack knows that it’s a risk he’s willing to take.
Twelve: http://the-silver-sun.livejournal.com/178423.html