Will My Arms Be Strong Enough 38/45
Title: Will My Arms Be Strong Enough? 38/45
Pairings: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys...and others!
Characters: Jack, Ianto, Gwen, Rhys, John Hart, two OC's, Andrea (Andie) Carlowe and Nick Jones.
Spoilers: Set after Exit Wounds.
Summary: It's moving day!
Chapter 38
One week later…
In the event, Nick and John had to wait for another week before they were able to move in together, so that John would have enough time to recover from his stay in hospital. The former Time Agent had been most unhappy about this, even threatening to withhold what he called ‘certain privileges’ once they were actually together if they didn’t do it straight away.
Clearly, he had forgotten about Nick’s famous self-restraint.
Eventually, Jack had been forced to intervene and had reminded John that if he did himself any more injuries, then he would be in no position to enjoy the privileges that he had been threatening to keep back in the first place - and that, between them, he and Ianto would make sure that Nick wouldn’t give him a ‘helping hand’ either.
That had worked like a treat and John had conceded, if not with the best grace, that the rest of his friends were right - although having Gwen and Andie threaten to chain him to his bed until all of them were satisfied that he was fully fit again could also have had something to do with it.
Now, however, the two men were busy in Nick’s small bedroom, supposed to be packing up the younger man’s clothes and personal effects. In reality, of course, what they were doing was completely different.
Nick’s battered suitcase was lying open on the bed, it was true, but there were more clothes out of it than there were in it. This was because John was finding it very amusing to take them up and either hold them against himself or hide them in hard to reach places, such as down the back of the bed or down the sides of the wardrobe.
“You know, if you would just let me pack this stuff up, this process would be a lot quicker than it is now,” remarked Nick once he’d retrieved a pair of black tartan socks from behind the radiator.
“True,” admitted John, who was emptying one of the drawers in the closet. “But it would also mean that I wouldn’t be able to get a look at that gorgeous posterior teasing me in those amazing jeans every time I - oh, hello!” He suddenly interrupted himself when he realised what he had just pulled out of the drawer and a filthy smile spread over his face. “And what, Dr. Jones, is this?”
Nick turned round from where he was stuffing the socks into his suitcase and smiled when he saw the black silk and lace corset his lover was holding up. “Oh - I thought I’d lost that!” He took it from him and laid it almost lovingly in the suitcase.
John laughed raucously. “Well, well,” he drawled, coming over and slipping his arms around Nick’s waist. “I had no idea you were into that sort of thing.”
In response, Nick turned round. “Oh,” he answered with a leer, “you’d be surprised what I could get into…Captain.” He dropped his voice. “In fact…if you keep looking in that drawer, you’ll probably find a pair of skinny black jeans, a box of jewellery and…a few other things besides.” He cleared his throat. “And if later on…”
John’s breath hitched, but before he could respond, there was a knock at the front door. “We will finish this discussion later,” he growled as he went to answer it.
“Sorry we’re late,” said Ianto as he breezed inside, closely followed by Jack. “We just had a couple of little problems with one of the Weevil babies.”
“Oh…oh, that’s okay,” stammered John, uncharacteristically flustered. “You didn’t really have to come and help out, you know.”
“Nonsense,” said Ianto briskly as he made his way into the bedroom. “If we weren’t here to help out, you two would never get anything done.” His face was stern, but his eyes were twinkling and his voice was thick with amusement.
Jack chuckled softly. “I was all set to just let you two get on with it,” he admitted as he looked around the room. “But, judging by the state of this place, Ianto’s right - you wouldn’t have gotten anything done if we’d just left you to it.”
"Yes, we would!" retorted John, apparently mortally offended by the comment. "It would just probably have taken us two days longer - it's not my fault the man has the most fantastic body." His voice took on a slightly dreamy quality all of a sudden. "Just seeing him in those jeans...God, he really knows what they do to me, doesn't he?" He smiled softly at Jack, before hastily clearing his throat. "Right, well - let's get on with this."
"That's right," smiled Jack. "The sooner we get this done, the sooner you two are going to be living together - officially, this time. Hey, does that mean if I ever write to you, I've got to put Captain Hart and Dr. Jones on the envelope?"
"I don't know what reason you'd have to write to us, but yes," answered John with a laugh as he started to empty one of the drawers in the desk, which was full of old pictures and odds and ends; pens, pencil sharpeners, ink cartridges and -
"Hey," John interrupted himself as sealed piece of paper with Nick's name written on it suddenly caught his eye. "Jack, look at this."
"What is it?" Jack came over and looked at it and laughed when he saw it. "John, it's probably nothing; just a letter that he's not gotten round to opening by the looks of it. But one thing I can tell you, he won't thank you if you open it without telling him about it first. Put it in your pocket and give it to him later or something."
John frowned and flipped the letter in his hand a few times before eventually deciding that Jack was right and slipping it in the back pocket of his jeans. He didn't know why, but that simple little piece of paper was making him feel very uneasy.
~*~
"You really didn't have to help us," said Nick as he folded his clothes in the suitcase. "We could've managed fine - and besides, I don't see you actually doing anything."
Ianto chuckled from his position by the radiator. "Oh, I'm doing something - I'm here to make sure you don't try and escape until you've got everything packed."
"And why would I do that?"
"Oh come on, Nick, I know you - you're so desperate to get going, so you'll get stubborn, insist on lifting all this heavy stuff by yourself and injure your back again."
Nick snorted. "My back's already fucked - what difference is it going to make?"
"It's the difference between deciding what you're going to be doing tonight. It's the difference between wearing that black lace corset and stilettos tonight so you can christen your bed, or being stuck on those awful painkillers and having to wear those heat patches around your waist until you get better," answered Ianto with a smirk. "And, between you and me, I think that's quite an enormous difference."
Nick glared at him. "You do not play fair - and how the hell do you know about that corset?"
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you, though I don't see you denying its existence," answered Ianto as he came over and slung an arm around his cousin's shoulder. "So?"
So…what?” asked Nick, looking up at him.
"So…are you ready?"
Nick turned round and grinned. "Yes - yes, I am ready. John and I have both had time to talk while he's been stuck doing paperwork, and we've agreed; we're both done with being stupid." He took a deep breath and zipped up his suitcase before lowering it onto the ground. "We’re both ready to do this."
~*~
Later on…
“So, how does it feel?” asked Jack, waving his hand around the room, a cheeky glimmer in his eyes. "I mean, really? How does it feel to be officially living together?"
John looked at him in amazement. "I've got the guy I love moving in," he said. "How do you think it feels?"
This pronouncement was followed by a long silence, in which the teasing expression in Jack's face softened to something more understanding. At the same time, Ianto started to rub his neck, apparently slightly uncomfortable, even though he was still smiling slightly.
At the same time, John himself began to feel apprehensive, as if he had crossed some sort of line in admitting his feelings publicly in such an intimate setting; despite saying the words to each other, he and Nick had never had the chance to talk properly about their feelings with each other and now he had opened up to his boss (and ex-lover) and his partner's (to all intents and purposes) brother. Admittedly, he had shouted it earlier but now he had said it in truth, quietly, in front of two of his best friends, rather than in defiance or as an excuse.
However, before anything more could be said, Nick reached across the table and linked their hands together, setting out his own public declaration of his feelings. John swallowed as he realised that he didn't even need to turn around and look at the younger man to know that their feelings were shared and his heart lifted.
Ianto broke the silence. "Well, I think you two have a lot to do tonight - a few rooms to christen and all that," he said, managing a small chuckle as he stood up. "We'll leave you to it." He clapped Nick on the shoulder and started for the door.
Jack nodded. "Yeah…we'll see you tomorrow." He worked his mouth a few times as if he was trying to say something else, but then gave up, nodded and left with Ianto.
After sitting in silence for several minutes, John coughed and stood up. "I'll get the dinner on."
"John, wait." Nick also stood up and followed him into the kitchen.
"Are you planning to cook tonight? If you don't mind me saying so -"
"No.” Nick shook his head, knowing that if he didn't say this now he never would. "It's not that. It's that," he paused and bit his lip, trying to ignore the tears pricking his eyes. "A week ago, I almost lost you, twice, because I was too blinded by anger to understand why you did what you did. I won't that say I don't know what I was thinking, because I wasn't thinking at all."
John turned round, "Nick," he whispered.
"No, let me finish. John, I won't say I was happy about what you did, because I wasn't. But I shouldn't have behaved the way I did. That was just..." but he couldn't get the words out.
"Oh, come here," said John, drawing the young man tightly into his arms and stroking his hair. "It's all right. What's happened is in the past and that's where it needs to stay, okay?"
"I'm sorry."
"I know. But it's over now - time for a new start, yeah?"
"Yeah," murmured Nick, his voice muffled by John's shoulder. They held each other tightly, each of them silently thanking the heavens above that they had been given this second chance to make things right with each other.
John took a deep breath. “Nick,” he said slowly. “There’s something I want to show you.” He started to reveal a small black box. “But you need to close your eyes first,” he added, his voice strangely quiet. “It’s a surprise.”
“You’re full of surprises sometimes,” replied Nick quietly, but he did as he was told and shut his eyes. A moment later, he gasped when he felt John’s warm hands around his neck and then something cool hit the skin above his chest. “John!” he gasped. “What’re you -”
“Open your eyes.” John’s voice was oddly husky.
Shivering slightly at the tone of his lover’s voice, Nick did as he was told and, to his surprise, found himself looking in a mirror. He gasped suddenly as he caught sight of a black leather necklace with a round pendant attached; it was made of stone, but the effect was more like swirling black light with strings of sliver flitting through it like sunlight on a river.
“It’s a piece of Pizrra stone,” explained John, “strong and virtually unbreakable. It was first mined in the forty-seventh century and by my time there was a roaring trade in it. People used to say that it was used like an amulet - for protection.” Smiling softly, he stroked Nick’s hair. “I want you to have it - I want you to be safe.”
Nick bit his lip and swallowed hard as he turned round and took in the depths of love and devotion he saw in John's eyes. "I don't know what to say," he whispered. "It's…it's beautiful."
"You'll wear it then?"
Nick looked up, straight into those eyes that might have been cut from a piece of emerald. "For you, a thousand times over," he whispered, before leaning close for a kiss.
***
Next Time: John and Nick have dinner with their closest friends and family, but as one relationship strengthens… is another about to fall apart?
Oh, and for those of you who were wondering, the last line Nick says ("For you, a thousand times over") is a quote from 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini and if you haven't read it, I urge you to!
Pairings: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys...and others!
Characters: Jack, Ianto, Gwen, Rhys, John Hart, two OC's, Andrea (Andie) Carlowe and Nick Jones.
Spoilers: Set after Exit Wounds.
Summary: It's moving day!
Chapter 38
One week later…
In the event, Nick and John had to wait for another week before they were able to move in together, so that John would have enough time to recover from his stay in hospital. The former Time Agent had been most unhappy about this, even threatening to withhold what he called ‘certain privileges’ once they were actually together if they didn’t do it straight away.
Clearly, he had forgotten about Nick’s famous self-restraint.
Eventually, Jack had been forced to intervene and had reminded John that if he did himself any more injuries, then he would be in no position to enjoy the privileges that he had been threatening to keep back in the first place - and that, between them, he and Ianto would make sure that Nick wouldn’t give him a ‘helping hand’ either.
That had worked like a treat and John had conceded, if not with the best grace, that the rest of his friends were right - although having Gwen and Andie threaten to chain him to his bed until all of them were satisfied that he was fully fit again could also have had something to do with it.
Now, however, the two men were busy in Nick’s small bedroom, supposed to be packing up the younger man’s clothes and personal effects. In reality, of course, what they were doing was completely different.
Nick’s battered suitcase was lying open on the bed, it was true, but there were more clothes out of it than there were in it. This was because John was finding it very amusing to take them up and either hold them against himself or hide them in hard to reach places, such as down the back of the bed or down the sides of the wardrobe.
“You know, if you would just let me pack this stuff up, this process would be a lot quicker than it is now,” remarked Nick once he’d retrieved a pair of black tartan socks from behind the radiator.
“True,” admitted John, who was emptying one of the drawers in the closet. “But it would also mean that I wouldn’t be able to get a look at that gorgeous posterior teasing me in those amazing jeans every time I - oh, hello!” He suddenly interrupted himself when he realised what he had just pulled out of the drawer and a filthy smile spread over his face. “And what, Dr. Jones, is this?”
Nick turned round from where he was stuffing the socks into his suitcase and smiled when he saw the black silk and lace corset his lover was holding up. “Oh - I thought I’d lost that!” He took it from him and laid it almost lovingly in the suitcase.
John laughed raucously. “Well, well,” he drawled, coming over and slipping his arms around Nick’s waist. “I had no idea you were into that sort of thing.”
In response, Nick turned round. “Oh,” he answered with a leer, “you’d be surprised what I could get into…Captain.” He dropped his voice. “In fact…if you keep looking in that drawer, you’ll probably find a pair of skinny black jeans, a box of jewellery and…a few other things besides.” He cleared his throat. “And if later on…”
John’s breath hitched, but before he could respond, there was a knock at the front door. “We will finish this discussion later,” he growled as he went to answer it.
“Sorry we’re late,” said Ianto as he breezed inside, closely followed by Jack. “We just had a couple of little problems with one of the Weevil babies.”
“Oh…oh, that’s okay,” stammered John, uncharacteristically flustered. “You didn’t really have to come and help out, you know.”
“Nonsense,” said Ianto briskly as he made his way into the bedroom. “If we weren’t here to help out, you two would never get anything done.” His face was stern, but his eyes were twinkling and his voice was thick with amusement.
Jack chuckled softly. “I was all set to just let you two get on with it,” he admitted as he looked around the room. “But, judging by the state of this place, Ianto’s right - you wouldn’t have gotten anything done if we’d just left you to it.”
"Yes, we would!" retorted John, apparently mortally offended by the comment. "It would just probably have taken us two days longer - it's not my fault the man has the most fantastic body." His voice took on a slightly dreamy quality all of a sudden. "Just seeing him in those jeans...God, he really knows what they do to me, doesn't he?" He smiled softly at Jack, before hastily clearing his throat. "Right, well - let's get on with this."
"That's right," smiled Jack. "The sooner we get this done, the sooner you two are going to be living together - officially, this time. Hey, does that mean if I ever write to you, I've got to put Captain Hart and Dr. Jones on the envelope?"
"I don't know what reason you'd have to write to us, but yes," answered John with a laugh as he started to empty one of the drawers in the desk, which was full of old pictures and odds and ends; pens, pencil sharpeners, ink cartridges and -
"Hey," John interrupted himself as sealed piece of paper with Nick's name written on it suddenly caught his eye. "Jack, look at this."
"What is it?" Jack came over and looked at it and laughed when he saw it. "John, it's probably nothing; just a letter that he's not gotten round to opening by the looks of it. But one thing I can tell you, he won't thank you if you open it without telling him about it first. Put it in your pocket and give it to him later or something."
John frowned and flipped the letter in his hand a few times before eventually deciding that Jack was right and slipping it in the back pocket of his jeans. He didn't know why, but that simple little piece of paper was making him feel very uneasy.
~*~
"You really didn't have to help us," said Nick as he folded his clothes in the suitcase. "We could've managed fine - and besides, I don't see you actually doing anything."
Ianto chuckled from his position by the radiator. "Oh, I'm doing something - I'm here to make sure you don't try and escape until you've got everything packed."
"And why would I do that?"
"Oh come on, Nick, I know you - you're so desperate to get going, so you'll get stubborn, insist on lifting all this heavy stuff by yourself and injure your back again."
Nick snorted. "My back's already fucked - what difference is it going to make?"
"It's the difference between deciding what you're going to be doing tonight. It's the difference between wearing that black lace corset and stilettos tonight so you can christen your bed, or being stuck on those awful painkillers and having to wear those heat patches around your waist until you get better," answered Ianto with a smirk. "And, between you and me, I think that's quite an enormous difference."
Nick glared at him. "You do not play fair - and how the hell do you know about that corset?"
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you, though I don't see you denying its existence," answered Ianto as he came over and slung an arm around his cousin's shoulder. "So?"
So…what?” asked Nick, looking up at him.
"So…are you ready?"
Nick turned round and grinned. "Yes - yes, I am ready. John and I have both had time to talk while he's been stuck doing paperwork, and we've agreed; we're both done with being stupid." He took a deep breath and zipped up his suitcase before lowering it onto the ground. "We’re both ready to do this."
~*~
Later on…
“So, how does it feel?” asked Jack, waving his hand around the room, a cheeky glimmer in his eyes. "I mean, really? How does it feel to be officially living together?"
John looked at him in amazement. "I've got the guy I love moving in," he said. "How do you think it feels?"
This pronouncement was followed by a long silence, in which the teasing expression in Jack's face softened to something more understanding. At the same time, Ianto started to rub his neck, apparently slightly uncomfortable, even though he was still smiling slightly.
At the same time, John himself began to feel apprehensive, as if he had crossed some sort of line in admitting his feelings publicly in such an intimate setting; despite saying the words to each other, he and Nick had never had the chance to talk properly about their feelings with each other and now he had opened up to his boss (and ex-lover) and his partner's (to all intents and purposes) brother. Admittedly, he had shouted it earlier but now he had said it in truth, quietly, in front of two of his best friends, rather than in defiance or as an excuse.
However, before anything more could be said, Nick reached across the table and linked their hands together, setting out his own public declaration of his feelings. John swallowed as he realised that he didn't even need to turn around and look at the younger man to know that their feelings were shared and his heart lifted.
Ianto broke the silence. "Well, I think you two have a lot to do tonight - a few rooms to christen and all that," he said, managing a small chuckle as he stood up. "We'll leave you to it." He clapped Nick on the shoulder and started for the door.
Jack nodded. "Yeah…we'll see you tomorrow." He worked his mouth a few times as if he was trying to say something else, but then gave up, nodded and left with Ianto.
After sitting in silence for several minutes, John coughed and stood up. "I'll get the dinner on."
"John, wait." Nick also stood up and followed him into the kitchen.
"Are you planning to cook tonight? If you don't mind me saying so -"
"No.” Nick shook his head, knowing that if he didn't say this now he never would. "It's not that. It's that," he paused and bit his lip, trying to ignore the tears pricking his eyes. "A week ago, I almost lost you, twice, because I was too blinded by anger to understand why you did what you did. I won't that say I don't know what I was thinking, because I wasn't thinking at all."
John turned round, "Nick," he whispered.
"No, let me finish. John, I won't say I was happy about what you did, because I wasn't. But I shouldn't have behaved the way I did. That was just..." but he couldn't get the words out.
"Oh, come here," said John, drawing the young man tightly into his arms and stroking his hair. "It's all right. What's happened is in the past and that's where it needs to stay, okay?"
"I'm sorry."
"I know. But it's over now - time for a new start, yeah?"
"Yeah," murmured Nick, his voice muffled by John's shoulder. They held each other tightly, each of them silently thanking the heavens above that they had been given this second chance to make things right with each other.
John took a deep breath. “Nick,” he said slowly. “There’s something I want to show you.” He started to reveal a small black box. “But you need to close your eyes first,” he added, his voice strangely quiet. “It’s a surprise.”
“You’re full of surprises sometimes,” replied Nick quietly, but he did as he was told and shut his eyes. A moment later, he gasped when he felt John’s warm hands around his neck and then something cool hit the skin above his chest. “John!” he gasped. “What’re you -”
“Open your eyes.” John’s voice was oddly husky.
Shivering slightly at the tone of his lover’s voice, Nick did as he was told and, to his surprise, found himself looking in a mirror. He gasped suddenly as he caught sight of a black leather necklace with a round pendant attached; it was made of stone, but the effect was more like swirling black light with strings of sliver flitting through it like sunlight on a river.
“It’s a piece of Pizrra stone,” explained John, “strong and virtually unbreakable. It was first mined in the forty-seventh century and by my time there was a roaring trade in it. People used to say that it was used like an amulet - for protection.” Smiling softly, he stroked Nick’s hair. “I want you to have it - I want you to be safe.”
Nick bit his lip and swallowed hard as he turned round and took in the depths of love and devotion he saw in John's eyes. "I don't know what to say," he whispered. "It's…it's beautiful."
"You'll wear it then?"
Nick looked up, straight into those eyes that might have been cut from a piece of emerald. "For you, a thousand times over," he whispered, before leaning close for a kiss.
***
Next Time: John and Nick have dinner with their closest friends and family, but as one relationship strengthens… is another about to fall apart?
Oh, and for those of you who were wondering, the last line Nick says ("For you, a thousand times over") is a quote from 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini and if you haven't read it, I urge you to!