[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 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."

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto raised an eyebrow, letting Sulu guide him up the path, not even pretending not to lean into him anymore. "I'm not sure how innocuous I could be, in a car that was 200 years before its time, really. I mean, sure. It'd be pretty fantastic, but. I mean, I think it'd be a bit too noticeable. And plus. If people nicked the SUV, just imagine what they'd do to a car like that in this day and age."

As they reached the door, Ianto fumbled with the keys, sifting through all of them to find the right one to unlock the door (he had a lot, one for every door and lock that needed one in Torchwood, as well as his house keys--easier to keep them all in one place than have multiple sets). "So it's one day at a time, now?" he asked, tired and distracted, not even thinking about what he was saying until the words were out and it was too late to stop himself. "What happened to all of the talk about planning for the future and all that you're always so keen on doing?"

[takeitoutofpark]

Sulu frowned at that, feeling strangely put out by Ianto's comment. "I didn't mean it like that," he said, and he could feel the bruise on his face just that much more for it. He knew Ianto didn't mean it in any really negative way, but still. "I just meant that you shouldn't worry about your car until you can actually drive again. It's a little pointless to worry about things that you can't control yet."

Despite the fact that his tone showed just how put off he was by Ianto's comment, he still held fast to Ianto, letting him lean against him, and didn't make any effort to really be upset or irritated by Ianto's comment. The other man was tired and annoyed that he was tired, and he probably wasn't even thinking things through that much; definitely not enough to realize that what he said sounded a little off-putting. He hoped, at least.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto didn't need to hear the tone in Sulu's voice to know that he'd made a misstep with his last words, but the tone did make him feel slightly more guilty about it. "...yeah, sorry," he said, quietly. Finding the right key and sliding it in the lock and turning it and working the mechanism, Ianto reached out to open the door, putting a little weight into it because the edges tended to stick. It was harder to do than normal, but he felt a little surge of triumph when he succeeded.

He moved forward into his entryway, flicking on the lights by the door, casting a dim glow into the living room next to them and down the narrow hallway into the kitchen. "...I don't think I've ever been more glad to see this place, really," Ianto said, turning to give Sulu a little smile at the comment, hoping that his little faux pas hadn't been enough to make the other man too upset at him. He was going to have to try and keep a better handle on his words, though, if he didn't want to have that happen again.

[takeitoutofpark]

Sulu could tell that he'd made Ianto feel even worse, reacting as he had, but he decided that it would be better to just let it drop, rather than apologizing himself. He'd just have to show Ianto that it was all right, rather than tell him.

So, instead, he smiled back at Ianto before looking around. "I'm pretty fond of it myself," he said, unable to keep the idea out of his head that he might've never come back here again. He frowned, suddenly. "I just remembered, I haven't had a chance to check on that plant I got you since... before everything." He ran a hand through his hair. "Do you think you could go on to the kitchen? I'll just take it in with me. I really don't want it to die." Because it was something he wanted Ianto to have, and he wanted it to stay with the other man for as long as he did. It had been a flimsy excuse for coming down before, the idea of taking care of it for Ianto, but now it was more than that.