[RL WITH SULU]

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto had been cleared by John and the attending nurse to be fit to go, and was currently in the process of getting himself presentable enough to be officially discharged. With Jack off on a call about someone having sighted Myfanwy out in the countryside, and Sulu waiting outside for the taxi they'd called to bring him home, that left him with the

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[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto nodded. "Yeah, I... I guess that makes sense. It's just odd to think about, from today's point of view, because... Well, 200 years ago for us, we were still using horse-drawn carriages and all. And I mean. People like retro, but. Not that retro. An old car is one thing, but. Having to own livestock in this day and age is sort of impossible unless you live out in the valleys out there."

Ianto smiled back at Sulu as he answered without any sort of hesitation at all that it was the Enterprise. And Ianto could believe that. He'd been aboard the ship before, and it really was impressive. He'd even been in the bridge that one time, although it had been grounded at the time. ...god, that seemed like so long ago, thinking back on it. "You'll have to take me, sometime," Ianto said, softly. "Flying, that is." And though he didn't say it, it clearly hung in the air after his statement: Because I'll be around for you to make plans with. Now that I'm alive again and all. I promised I'm not going anywhere, I mean it. Best not say that aloud, though. Not just yet. Certainly not in front of the taxi driver, who'd probably already heard enough to think that they must be talking in a code or well, just plain crazy.

[takeitoutofpark]

Sulu paused at that, taking in the words, said and unsaid. It was almost alarming, to hear Ianto say something about the future, planning ahead - but then he realized, or remembered really, that Ianto had died already so. There was no harm in it.

He squeezed Ianto's knee gently, smiling at him gently because it was so good. Everything was so damned perfect and he didn't care if Ianto wanted nothing more than to sleep and lie down and complain about the fact that that's all he could do. He didn't care that he got tired easily, because it was only just for now. He didn't care because Ianto was there and they could go anywhere they wanted - anywhere Ianto wanted.

"Yeah," he said, managing to sound casual despite the fact that he felt overwhelmed, "Flying, and on shore-leave, I'm supposed to take you planetside. And maybe sometime I can figure out how to get us to San Francisco - my San Francisco, I mean." The idea made him almost nervously excited. "But for now," he smirked at Ianto, "I think we'll have to stick to an easy lunch and your bed."

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto smiled broadly. "I'd like that. I'd like all of that. Getting to see you fly, getting to visit a foreign planet, getting to visit your home... I really would like to do all of that at some point." And we will. Because we can. Really. Maybe it was because he had died already that Ianto wasn't as pessimistic as before, but. He was looking forward to all of it. He wanted to be able to do all of it.

"Lunch and bed sounds good, though," he commented. "I'm honestly glad to be out of that place and not eating hospital food anymore. I could care less what I have to eat, really, just as long as I don't have to have hospital food again for a good long while. And, you know." He shrugged, sighing. "There's no use arguing with the fact that I should be taking it easy, or anything like that. I just..." Don't want you to leave. If you were planning on it, once I went to sleep. No, best not say that. Not then, at least. "I think food first would probably be the best idea."

[takeitoutofpark]

Sulu wanted nothing more than to do those things, and to do them as soon as possible. He also wanted to do all the things they'd talked about doing there in Cardiff: seeing a movie, staying in, going to the stupid grocery store. It really didn't matter; Sulu just wanted to be able to do all those things with Ianto, and more. Because he'd almost missed his chance, and he didn't want to do that again.

"Don't worry. I'm pretty sure between Jack and me, we'll be able to keep you out of the hospital for a long while." Even if it meant locking him up somewhere, so that he didn't try to get into something that might end up harming him. He knew he'd never really do that, but. The idea would be tempting sometimes, he had a feeling. "And anyway, we'll see what you've got for food at your place and... I'll try to make something out of it, so you're not doing too much work."

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto smiled, turning his head to rest sideways against the window, leaning his temple on the glass. His eyes were starting to droop again, lulled by the motion of the traffic around them and the actual drive itself, and he had to fight to keep them open. Damn it, this was getting ridiculous, he better start to snap out of this soon. "I'm sure you will," he said, in response to Sulu's comment about the two of them keeping an eye out for him. There was no Torchwood at the moment. They had a while before anything really worrisome came over the horizon, anyway. Ianto was about to have a lot of free time that he wasn't sure he really knew what to do with. Sleep, he supposed, but he really didn't like that option at all.

"Mmm," he said, in response to the food. "I'm sure you'll do fine. I'll be there to guide you in the right direction." He smirked, and yes alright, his eyes did fall shut now, tired of fighting it and really not having to move for another 5 minutes or so anyway. "Like hell you're going to convince me to go have a lie down while you take care of it when there's the potential for you to set something on fire."

[takeitoutofpark]

Sulu made a face, but when he noticed that Ianto's eyes were closed, his head against the window, he couldn't help but smile, bringing his hand up to run through Ianto's hair. Though he was trying not to stare at Ianto, he couldn't help but glance at him as he watched the city going by around them. It was hard not to, and he knew he was going to have to get over this eventually - just not right now.

"Hey, give me some credit," he said indignantly, "Cooking can't possibly be that hard. We don't have gas ranges or anything at home but it doesn't mean we don't cook once in a while." After all, replicators were fine, but nothing beat the ability to have a home-cooked dinner. Even if they didn't really do it all the time.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto let out a little low noise in the back of his throat at the feeling of Sulu's hand in his hair, smiling softly, but not really being able to find the energy to pick his head up or open his eyes or anything. "It doesn't matter if the people in your time cook every once and a while," he said, "it matters that you don't sound like you do. Which is fine. I'd certainly rather be able to just replicate something out, some nights. But I don't have one, so. Gas range it is. Why don't we see what I've got in terms of food before we start making any grand plans, though, yeah? I've absolutely no idea what Jack stocked up on."

As soon as he fell silent again, he could feel his mind beginning to wander in a sort of half-asleep, dream-like state. God. Maybe he should make himself some coffee when he got back. At the very least, that would keep him awake long enough to actually hold a decent conversation without falling asleep on the other man. He let out a little noise of frustration. "You're not allowed to let me fall asleep until after food, no matter how much you may want to just let me rest. This is ridiculous."

[takeitoutofpark]

Sulu couldn't really argue with that reasoning. He was a 21-year-old military man; he just didn't have time to cook. And when he'd been younger... well, he hadn't really been given any cooking responsibilities at all. It would be an adventure, at least, which was something Sulu definitely enjoyed.

"Don't worry," he said with a small smile, "I want you awake as much as you do. I missed talking to you." Even though they'd gone longer without talking, it had been... for different reasons. He'd taken him for granted, and he didn't want to do it again. "And besides, I'm absolutely not dragging you into your flat. It'll look way too suspicious."

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto shrugged. "It's Grangetown. Not that I'm saying you should or that you're going to have to, but. If it were to be the case, I don't think anyone would really pay it all that much mind. Probably just assume that I was smashed, or something. It's a common enough occurrence, and all."

"That's good, though. That you'll keep me awake. I'm trusting your word on this, by the way. Maybe it'll be better when we're not moving. Or... Maybe I could make some coffee, or something. John didn't say anything about whether or not I should have caffeine, but. I'm guessing he would have, if it'd been an issue. Should keep me awake and functioning long enough to talk to you for a little while at least, yeah?" he said, smiling, still sitting with his eyes shut and his head leaning against the window as the taxi drove on.

[takeitoutofpark]

"Doesn't mean I'm going to," Sulu said with a laugh. He couldn't imagine dragging him up the walkway. "I couldn't even think about carrying you when I was drunk, and I really don't want to be sober to try it. It'd be too humiliating if I dropped you."

At the idea of Ianto making coffee, though, he grinned a little bit wider than before, moving his arm down to wrap around Ianto's shoulders. Pulling him a bit so that he could provide a better pillow than the door, he said, "I think caffeine should be okay. But only if you think you can make enough for for both of us." He wondered if he should say it - and then he threw his determination to keep casual out the window. "I was going to miss your coffee, so I'm a little excited that I can have you making it again." And it was true; even though he wasn't particularly fond of coffee, Ianto's was the exception for him, and probably for anyone else.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto let himself be shifted willingly, moving his head from where it was resting on the door to lean in the opposite direction and rest on Sulu's shoulder. It was more comfortable this way, he just... He hadn't intended in leaning over and resting on anything in the first place, and he was didn't want to appear any worse or weaker than he already did. It was just that... There really was something about the fact that they were in a car that was lulling him to a more relaxed, sleepy state.

"I think I can manage to make two cups," he said, fondly. "Far be it from me to deny anyone of their coffee or caffeine, especially when it's being done correctly." He settled in closer to Sulu, shifting his head on his shoulder to get comfortable. "You might have to drink it black, though. I'm not sure whether Jack's bought any new milk, and well. If he hasn't, whatever I've got in the fridge is going to be spoiled by now, so. It's still good that way, mind. Just...probably not a taste you're used to having."

[takeitoutofpark]

"I'm sure I'll be okay," Sulu said, giving Ianto's shoulders a squeeze. He knew he wouldn't complain about it, even if Ianto was in poor form and burnt the coffee, or something. He was just happy that things would be going back to the way things were; Ianto making coffee, them being able to sit together, lounge around and talk about nothing, or everything. It would be different, of course, because Sulu wouldn't be taking him for granted, and he'd be more worried for him than ever. But it would be... better than it could have been, if things hadn't worked out.

"Don't get too comfortable," he said quietly, "We're probably nearly there, after all, and I'd hate to wake you up."

[torchwoodteaboy]

"Nnngh," Ianto groaned, in response to Sulu's prompting him not to go to sleep, and he shifted, managing to open his eyes and look out the window. And Sulu was right, of course, they really were only about a minute off from his flat, if even. He sighed. He felt like he was in that constant state of nodding off, like if he weren't moving somehow, bouncing a leg up and down in an effort to keep himself focused, he was going to slip under again. "Wake me up anyway. Even if you hate to. I hate to keep falling asleep on you so often, but it doesn't seem like I really have any choice in the matter."

Struggling to make himself sit up straight, he reluctantly pulled up and away from where he was leaning on Sulu, preparing himself for the fact that he was going to have to get out of the taxi and pay the driver pretty shortly.

[takeitoutofpark]

Sulu was, admittedly, a little thrown off by the fact that Ianto seemed to be tired all the time, but he also knew that it was supposed to be expected. John had said so himself, that for a little while, maybe a week or two, Ianto would be feeling tired and weak. After all, he had explained, his body needed to get used to him again, and vice versa.

So, instead of being worried or cautious about it, Sulu just nodded. "Yeah, don't worry. I'll try to keep you up, though, one way or another. The coffee will help," he prompted, "So just remember you're going to get some coffee in a few minutes here."

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto nodded, yawning and reaching an arm up to run through his hair. Coffee... Coffee, and then food that he didn't have to make, and then bed. It sounded like an excellent combination to him. A minute or so later, they were pulling up to the side of Ianto's flat, and all of those things were so much closer, so Ianto smiled a little. First thing's first, he was going to have to make it into the house and the kitchen, first. He'd worry about getting upstairs to the bed later.

Managing to get out of the car all on his own, and even pay the driver, Ianto sighed as he watched the cab drive away, pausing in the walkway to dig out his keys that Jack had dropped off for him. He looked over at his empty parking spot, wondering where his car was until he realized, sighing. "I'm going to have to get a new car, aren't I?" he bemoaned, looking over at the empty spot. "Mine was in the garage at the Hub, and well. Who knows how that stood up in the blast. I didn't even think about it until just now..." Too many things were so much different than they had been the last time he'd been in Cardiff, it was a bit overwhelming, really.

[takeitoutofpark]

Sulu watched the cab drive away before turning to Ianto, giving him a comforting smile as he gently put his arm around his waist - mostly for support, but also just because he could. "You might, yeah, but. Let's not worry about that. We can check the damage and see if it survived, and if not - then you can get a new one." He laughed, "I'd say I could just find you a new one in my timeline, but I'm pretty sure you won't want to be turning any heads." That, and it would be completely against both Torchwood and Starfleet protocols. Still, it was fun to think about.

Gently, he guided Ianto up towards the door. "Let's just think about one day at a time for right now."