Restoration (7/10)
Title: Restoration (7/10)
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Characters: Jack, Ianto, Gwen, Doctor, Martha, Rhys, Rhiannon
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: CoE
Summary: My response to the horrors of series 3.
Well, thanks for all the great comments on the last chapter! I hope you enjoy this one. I'm not sure what I think of it, but I decided to post anyway. Hopefully it's not awful
Ianto can’t quite get over the fact that he is curled into Jack’s side, muted credits rolling down the TV screen, feeling warm and comfortable. There is none of the tension or urgency that used to characterise so many of the moments they spent alone together and that still exists a lot of the time. It’s pleasant, but it also seems like a good time to ask some of the questions that have been plaguing him.
‘Jack,’ he starts, pulling back slightly so he can look at the other man. ‘Are psychic bonds common in the 51st century?’
Jack looks thoughtful for a moment before shaking his head. ‘Not really. Only between the most committed, since they’re far more binding than a simple marriage. Part of our psychic training focuses on guarding against it, since as soon as a couple becomes emotionally involved there’s potential for a psychic bonding. I never bothered since landing in the 1800s, because hardly anyone’s psychic - it’s not really been an issue.’
‘How come you didn’t notice it had formed?’
‘It’s not something I’ve ever experienced before, and I guess it built up slowly.’ He shrugs. ‘Unusual situation - we weren’t taught to identify the beginnings because it was always assumed that we would be well aware of them, having consciously made the decision to link.’
Ianto frowns and nods before forcing himself to ask what’s really been bothering him. ‘Do you mind?’
Jack looks confused. ‘Mind what?’
‘The bond.’
There is a look of dawning realisation and then he’s being pulled close again. ‘No, I don’t mind. It’s quite nice really. And if I was going to end up accidentally linked to anyone, you’d be the one I’d pick.’
Ianto smiles slightly, but still asks, ‘It doesn’t bother you that you didn’t have a choice?’
‘Should it? I’m not unhappy with the results, so what difference does it make?’ He frowns suddenly. ‘Ianto, does it bother you?’
‘I don’t know. I’m not really very aware of it, but I don’t know what to expect, whereas you have at least some kind of idea.’
‘Yan ...’
‘No, I’m sorry Jack. I suppose everything’s catching up to me. Fear of the unknown.’
Jack presses a slow, tender kiss to his lips, tongue barely grazing before he draws back. ‘You’re not alone. Okay? And you know what the Doctor said. It’ll develop more over time, and we’ll figure it out as we go along. We. Okay?’
Ianto nods. ‘Alright.’
They kiss again and the sex that night is slow burning and utterly sensual, something warm and reassuring. It doesn’t have the white hot fire he’s used to, but the difference is not a bad one and there is a deep kind of intensity. Ianto realises as he falls asleep afterwards that they’ve just made love. Even when they were getting serious, before his death and the bond, it was never quite like this, comfort, even acknowledgement of their feelings, found in heat and distraction and games of desire, not in slow tenderness.
Break
Two days later Ianto is sitting at his desk in the office, compiling a list. Despite the conversation with Jack and what followed he still can’t quite shake his anxiety, and so he falls back on tried and true methods. Order has always soothed Ianto; both cleaning and filing are therapeutic activities, and when faced by a problem or a complex situation he finds that lists help. They clear his head, order his thoughts, and often allow him to make connections or find solutions he would not have done otherwise.
His list focuses on the psychic link, his most pressing concern and interest, although the immortality issue also niggles. Opening a document, he notes down what he knows, what he feels, what he wonders.
Psychic Link
Inadvertent
Bonds us together
More focused empathy
General awareness
Intimacy
Death of one would kill the other - except it obviously can’t
How does Jack view it? Does his 51st century culture affect that?
How do I view it? - Uncertainty, curiosity, positive? Need more information
Does it affect our relationship? If so, how? Forced monogamy, contact, what?
Are there benefits? What?
Can we control the link? Eg block it, open it etc.
Will it affect my empathy?
Will it develop? If so, how? Locate each other? Feel each other’s pain? Hear thoughts?
He frowns, tapping a finger thoughtfully against the desk. It will be added to, but it’s a good start. Already the anxiety has lessened. Even if finding the answers is problematic, just knowing exactly what the questions are helps. He sighs slightly and sips his coffee. That, of course, is when Jack comes over, leaning over his shoulder to read the screen. Ianto rolls his eyes; Jack is nosy, although at least it means he doesn’t have to start the conversation himself.
‘What are you working on? Psychic links? Ianto ...’
He shrugs dismissively. ‘I just want to get things straight in my head.’
‘We haven’t talked about it. Well, the other night.’
‘It’s not anything really. It’s just I’ve only got basic psychic training, so I don’t really know ...’
‘We’ll work on it. Figure out how to use it, control it.’
Ianto nods, feeling suddenly relaxed. He leans into Jack’s warmth, who grins suddenly. ‘You write lists?’
He rolls his eyes at Jack’s teasing. ‘What’s wrong with lists? They organise my thoughts. God knows you can’t even write a shopping list.’
‘I’ll have you know -’ He is cut off by the phone ringing. Sighing, he goes to answer it. Ianto watches as his expression darkens and the discussion - whatever it is about - becomes heated. Concerned, he walks over, blinking as Jack slams the phone violently into its cradle.
‘Bloody. UNIT!’ he snarls before launching into a loud, heated tirade against ‘interfering asshole politicians who wouldn’t have the first clue what to do faced by an alien’. Except that he goes on a lot longer and there’s a lot more swearing. Ianto lets him rant and when it seems to be petering out, asks quietly, ‘What exactly did they say?’
‘They want to keep an eye on us. Torchwood! Apparently, we’re not to be trusted because we’re a British organisation. They want reports! Inspections!’
‘Did you try pointing out that we worked against the government over the 456? Or that they themselves were involved in the whole fiasco?’
Jack snorts. ‘Apparently none of that matters. They’re sending someone over on Friday - some ‘elected representative’.’
Ianto raises an eyebrow and says ‘Shit’, which seems to sum up the situation quite nicely. Still ... ‘Friday, you said? Well, that gives us the rest of today and tomorrow. Plenty of time.’
‘Plenty of time for what?’
‘To completely mislead them. Set up security they can’t hope to get through while creating false reports. It’ll keep us safe and stop them from interfering too badly until you get your way.’ Which he will. No one can oppose Jack indefinitely.
A slow grin forms. ‘Ianto Jones, you are brilliant!’
Ianto nods, trying to stifle the threatening smile. ‘I know, sir.’ Of course, all pretense at smug formality flies out of the window when Jack snogs him, but he can’t bring himself to care.
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Characters: Jack, Ianto, Gwen, Doctor, Martha, Rhys, Rhiannon
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: CoE
Summary: My response to the horrors of series 3.
Well, thanks for all the great comments on the last chapter! I hope you enjoy this one. I'm not sure what I think of it, but I decided to post anyway. Hopefully it's not awful
Ianto can’t quite get over the fact that he is curled into Jack’s side, muted credits rolling down the TV screen, feeling warm and comfortable. There is none of the tension or urgency that used to characterise so many of the moments they spent alone together and that still exists a lot of the time. It’s pleasant, but it also seems like a good time to ask some of the questions that have been plaguing him.
‘Jack,’ he starts, pulling back slightly so he can look at the other man. ‘Are psychic bonds common in the 51st century?’
Jack looks thoughtful for a moment before shaking his head. ‘Not really. Only between the most committed, since they’re far more binding than a simple marriage. Part of our psychic training focuses on guarding against it, since as soon as a couple becomes emotionally involved there’s potential for a psychic bonding. I never bothered since landing in the 1800s, because hardly anyone’s psychic - it’s not really been an issue.’
‘How come you didn’t notice it had formed?’
‘It’s not something I’ve ever experienced before, and I guess it built up slowly.’ He shrugs. ‘Unusual situation - we weren’t taught to identify the beginnings because it was always assumed that we would be well aware of them, having consciously made the decision to link.’
Ianto frowns and nods before forcing himself to ask what’s really been bothering him. ‘Do you mind?’
Jack looks confused. ‘Mind what?’
‘The bond.’
There is a look of dawning realisation and then he’s being pulled close again. ‘No, I don’t mind. It’s quite nice really. And if I was going to end up accidentally linked to anyone, you’d be the one I’d pick.’
Ianto smiles slightly, but still asks, ‘It doesn’t bother you that you didn’t have a choice?’
‘Should it? I’m not unhappy with the results, so what difference does it make?’ He frowns suddenly. ‘Ianto, does it bother you?’
‘I don’t know. I’m not really very aware of it, but I don’t know what to expect, whereas you have at least some kind of idea.’
‘Yan ...’
‘No, I’m sorry Jack. I suppose everything’s catching up to me. Fear of the unknown.’
Jack presses a slow, tender kiss to his lips, tongue barely grazing before he draws back. ‘You’re not alone. Okay? And you know what the Doctor said. It’ll develop more over time, and we’ll figure it out as we go along. We. Okay?’
Ianto nods. ‘Alright.’
They kiss again and the sex that night is slow burning and utterly sensual, something warm and reassuring. It doesn’t have the white hot fire he’s used to, but the difference is not a bad one and there is a deep kind of intensity. Ianto realises as he falls asleep afterwards that they’ve just made love. Even when they were getting serious, before his death and the bond, it was never quite like this, comfort, even acknowledgement of their feelings, found in heat and distraction and games of desire, not in slow tenderness.
Break
Two days later Ianto is sitting at his desk in the office, compiling a list. Despite the conversation with Jack and what followed he still can’t quite shake his anxiety, and so he falls back on tried and true methods. Order has always soothed Ianto; both cleaning and filing are therapeutic activities, and when faced by a problem or a complex situation he finds that lists help. They clear his head, order his thoughts, and often allow him to make connections or find solutions he would not have done otherwise.
His list focuses on the psychic link, his most pressing concern and interest, although the immortality issue also niggles. Opening a document, he notes down what he knows, what he feels, what he wonders.
Psychic Link
Inadvertent
Bonds us together
More focused empathy
General awareness
Intimacy
Death of one would kill the other - except it obviously can’t
How does Jack view it? Does his 51st century culture affect that?
How do I view it? - Uncertainty, curiosity, positive? Need more information
Does it affect our relationship? If so, how? Forced monogamy, contact, what?
Are there benefits? What?
Can we control the link? Eg block it, open it etc.
Will it affect my empathy?
Will it develop? If so, how? Locate each other? Feel each other’s pain? Hear thoughts?
He frowns, tapping a finger thoughtfully against the desk. It will be added to, but it’s a good start. Already the anxiety has lessened. Even if finding the answers is problematic, just knowing exactly what the questions are helps. He sighs slightly and sips his coffee. That, of course, is when Jack comes over, leaning over his shoulder to read the screen. Ianto rolls his eyes; Jack is nosy, although at least it means he doesn’t have to start the conversation himself.
‘What are you working on? Psychic links? Ianto ...’
He shrugs dismissively. ‘I just want to get things straight in my head.’
‘We haven’t talked about it. Well, the other night.’
‘It’s not anything really. It’s just I’ve only got basic psychic training, so I don’t really know ...’
‘We’ll work on it. Figure out how to use it, control it.’
Ianto nods, feeling suddenly relaxed. He leans into Jack’s warmth, who grins suddenly. ‘You write lists?’
He rolls his eyes at Jack’s teasing. ‘What’s wrong with lists? They organise my thoughts. God knows you can’t even write a shopping list.’
‘I’ll have you know -’ He is cut off by the phone ringing. Sighing, he goes to answer it. Ianto watches as his expression darkens and the discussion - whatever it is about - becomes heated. Concerned, he walks over, blinking as Jack slams the phone violently into its cradle.
‘Bloody. UNIT!’ he snarls before launching into a loud, heated tirade against ‘interfering asshole politicians who wouldn’t have the first clue what to do faced by an alien’. Except that he goes on a lot longer and there’s a lot more swearing. Ianto lets him rant and when it seems to be petering out, asks quietly, ‘What exactly did they say?’
‘They want to keep an eye on us. Torchwood! Apparently, we’re not to be trusted because we’re a British organisation. They want reports! Inspections!’
‘Did you try pointing out that we worked against the government over the 456? Or that they themselves were involved in the whole fiasco?’
Jack snorts. ‘Apparently none of that matters. They’re sending someone over on Friday - some ‘elected representative’.’
Ianto raises an eyebrow and says ‘Shit’, which seems to sum up the situation quite nicely. Still ... ‘Friday, you said? Well, that gives us the rest of today and tomorrow. Plenty of time.’
‘Plenty of time for what?’
‘To completely mislead them. Set up security they can’t hope to get through while creating false reports. It’ll keep us safe and stop them from interfering too badly until you get your way.’ Which he will. No one can oppose Jack indefinitely.
A slow grin forms. ‘Ianto Jones, you are brilliant!’
Ianto nods, trying to stifle the threatening smile. ‘I know, sir.’ Of course, all pretense at smug formality flies out of the window when Jack snogs him, but he can’t bring himself to care.