Title: The Child Inside
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Ianto, Jack.
Rating: PG
Written For: Challenge 753: Balance at
tw100.
Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: On a night out with Jack, Ianto laments the reality of being an adult.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
A/N: Double drabble.
“Used to do this all the time when I was a kid,” Ianto said conversationally as he walked along the kerbstones edging the pavement, arms spread wide like a tightrope walker to maintain his balance.
He swayed alarmingly and Jack readied himself to grab his lover if he overbalanced, but somehow he righted himself and continued on his way, placing one foot in front of the other with exaggerated care.
“Don’t know why I stopped.” Ianto paused, one foot in the air, as if he couldn’t manage to walk and think at the same time, which might well have been the case, considering how drunk he was. “Maybe ‘cause I grew up. Bad idea, that.”
“What, growing up?”
“Mm.” Ianto started walking again. “I mean, some of it’s fun. I can drive, and have sex, and get drunk anytime I want, but there’s so much…” He paused again, face scrunching up, and waved his arms around vaguely.
“Stress?” Jack tried.
“That!” Ianto pointed at Jack, nearly poking him in the eye. “Haveta work, pay bills, taxes, all the boring grownup stuff. Not enough time left for fun. It’s sad.”
“It is,” Jack agreed. “Everyone needs to embrace their inner child.”
The End