A mutual understanding (Torchwood Ficlet, adult content)
“What was the most wonderful relationship you kept secret?” Gwen asked Jack, one evening after everyone else had gone. “And not because you wanted to but because you had to.” Gwen added not wanting to know about Ianto and him.
“Alright Gwen Cooper, you’ve certainly making me think.” Jack told her with a smile. “You might have to come back to me on that one.”
Gwen nodded. “Ok night Jack.” She said before leaving the office.
Jack waited until she was long gone before picking up the small box that he kept, full of old photos of past relationships and him dressed in various outfits from bygone eras. He smiled as he went through them until he stumbled upon the photo he was looking for. It was a photo of a young man with untidy brown hair that refused to be combed back, no matter how they tried soft blue eyes and wearing a black dinner suit. Even if the picture was taken in sepia, he knew that it was black because of the memories of the night it was taken. He closed his eyes as he remembered the day that he had met him.
It had been a Wednesday in the middle of June 1902 and Jack was sitting in a bar, having a celebratory drink after successfully catching another alien. He was on his own because he wanted to avoid another experiment back at the hub. He was about to down his second whisky when a young man caught his eye, just as he walking up to the bar. He looked about nineteen/twenty at the latest. Jack remembered feeling an instant attraction, just like everyone else he had met in the past.
“Would you like a drink?” Jack asked, causing the young man to look at him with soft blue eyes that made his heart skip a beat.
“Thank you, I’ll have a scotch.” He said turning to the barman, who nodded at Jack before pouring out his drink.
“I’m Captain Jack Harkness, by the way.” Jack told him as the barman handed the young man his drink.
“James Worthington, are you like me then?” The young man asked sitting down on the stool next to Jack’s. Jack gave him a curious glance. “From the old colonies.”
“Oh yes, I’m American, if that’s what you mean?” Jack asked with a smile.
James nodded. “Yes, just arrived from Australia, going to study at Oxford.” He explained looking Jack over with those beautiful blue eyes.
“So what brings you here to Cardiff?” Jack asked puzzled as to why he wasn’t in Oxford.
“I’m visiting family here, my mother’s welsh.”
Jack nodded and waited until the barman was out of earshot before bending over to whisper in James’ ear.
“Are you the type of man who would ‘dance’ with another man?”
Jack was expecting him to say no because to him, James didn’t seem the type because of the calm exterior that he processed. He was wrong when James whispered back.
“It depends if you’re offering?” James said with a smile that showed seduction and mischief.
Jack nodded and led him out of the bar towards an old hotel near the bay.
That night he felt more alive as he felt the young man inside him, sending him to a state of ecstasy. James had never been with another man who was older than him as he had shown his nervousness when Jack led him to their room. Jack had offered to make him relax so he could feel more at ease but James had refused saying that he would be alright once he touched his lips.
He felt the young man’s hands making their way down his hips before the sudden thrust that made Jack finally come. He heard James laugh as he fell over backwards on the bed.
“You, Harkness are an easy man to please.” He said with a laugh.
“Well, I certainly love to ‘dance’.” Jack told him turning around to look at him. “Don’t really get the chance to ‘dance’ with men nowadays.”
“Because of the laws?” James had asked sitting up to kiss Jack’s lips again.
“Well yes and because Wilde’s trial has made it hard.” Jack replied, kissing him back. “Men don’t want to confess easily that they are...”
“Sorry I have to go.” James interrupted, “My family would be wondering where I’ve got to.”
Jack was disappointed as he watched James leave the room but it wasn’t the last time that they would meet in this very room.
After that encounter, they kept in touch while James was at Oxford University studying politics and literature. Jack in his letters would use metaphors to express his feelings in case of peeping eyes were reading. James was the same in case Torchwood decided to read, which they would of course as they had nothing better to do but spy on their immortal workmate. During the term breaks they would spend days at the hotel until Jack had to go on another investigation. Jack loved the riskiness of their relationship and never once let slip it to anyone. He really had fallen in love with the man.
Jack smiled as he placed the photo aside and picked up another photo. This time it showed James standing up with a woman in an old fashioned wedding dress sitting down on a chair. He focused on it for awhile as memories of that day filled his head.
A few months before James had brought him the bad news that they had to end their relationship because he had fallen in love with a girl.
“I’m sorry, Jack. I just fell in love.” He explained looking into Jack’s eyes to prove he wasn’t lying.
“I don’t blame you.” Jack told him before softly kissing him on the lips. “I’m happy for you.”
“I’m thinking of marrying her.” James confessed as they drew apart.
“Good for you.” Jack said, holding him in his arms. James could sense that he was disappointed.
“Jack, believe me when I say that I love you too. Ok I’ve never said it because you’re a man but I can’t stay with you.” James explained. “There’s no future for us because of the laws.”
Jack nodded but was a little shocked. “I never knew you felt that way.”
“Well you do now.”
“I will confess that I fell in love with you as well and I agree with you entirely.”
James smiled. “Will you be my best man at my wedding?”
Jack was taken back. “Really? You want me to be your best man?”
“Of course, I consider you to be my best friend.” James replied with a smile. “I don’t really have many friends that I consider to be close.”
Jack didn’t know what to say as he never knew James had felt that way about him. That he was a friend as well as the man he loved.
“James Worthington I will be delighted to be your best man.” Jack told him, causing James to smile a very beautiful smile.
A single tear ran down Jack’s cheek as he placed the photo face down on the desk. He then spotted James’ handwriting on the back that he had never noticed before when he had received the photo in the post. He picked it up to see what it said. He smiled when he read.
“If only it was you, Jack.”