(Untitled)

[not_as_factual]

The Jack Harkness who enters the Nexus this particular evening looks like he's seen better days, to be honest. It's a combination of stress and very little sleep, which might be inferred by the dark circles under his eyes and the venti cup of Starbucks in his hand, combined with the lackluster way he settles back onto one of the Convenient Nexus

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[deoledig]

If there's one thing - person - that Ianto Jones has a weakness for, it's Jack Harkness. On his way through the Nexus for no particular reason other than the fact that he occasionally does pass through, Ianto settles down on a chair nearby.

"For one thing," he notes, "as much as I'd love coffee, I'd recommend against drinking it while trying to relax."

[deoledig]

Ianto smiles at that. "It's all right. I've been told I'm a good listener." With that whole ... not talking often thing. "I think you just need to take things one at a time. Don't dwell too closely on the things you can't change, and work on the things you can."

[not_as_factual]

The whole 'good listener' thing just makes Jack laugh, because he doesn't consider his Ianto to be a good listen at all. "Sorry," he apologizes, looking just a little sheepish, "I just can't imagine the Ianto Jones in my universe giving a shit enough to listen." Which is a terrible thing to say, but Jack's already said it and he can't unsay it. "You're right, though. Good advice."

[deoledig]

"It's all right," Ianto answers with a fairly easygoing shrug. "To be perfectly honest with you, my partner and I had a lot of problems communicating in the earlier part of our relationship ... so the listening wasn't exactly a natural talent."

[not_as_factual]

"But it is something you worked at," Jack points out, highlighting the fact that his own Ianto ... well, didn't. He sighs a little. "Good thing you worked it out. It's a huge mess otherwise."

[deoledig]

"Yeah, it is." Ianto smiles a bit ruefully, looking down at his shoes. "We nearly broke up. Not enough communication, a misunderstanding, we were completely on the wrong page. But we never really fought over any of the things we should have. Then, we finally had this huge row that ended in him walking out ... and I was too stupid to figure out that I needed to follow him."

[not_as_factual]

... ridiculously, Jack begins to laugh. "Wow, for a while there I thought you were with your universe's Lisa, but it sounds like you're with an alternate of me." His expression falters, though, and he looks sad. "I had to tell my universe's Ianto that. That when I walked away, I needed him to follow. And he still didn't seem to get it. Maybe he didn't really care to get it."

[deoledig]

Everything that happened with Lisa was so long ago now - it feels like another life, or two lives, since then - that Ianto's expression doesn't falter, but he does seem familiar with her name, if Jack is looking out for it.

"I am with an alternate of you," Ianto confirms, though Jack had better be careful; Ianto is on the verge of breaking out the proverbial wallet with photos (which, by this century, probably means he's about to get out his mobile and show off the photo album). "You know, much like myself, he probably thought he could make it up to you after he got back. Though I tried looking for mine after I got some sense knocked into me ... but he'd hopped the planet, not just left the flat."

[not_as_factual]

"I don't think there's any making it up to me," Jack comments quietly, shrugging a little. He's so disillusioned with the way their relationship went right now that he can't imagine it ever being good, much less settling down and raising a family. Ianto doesn't like his daughter, likes his grandson even less, and doesn't seem to care about much that isn't directly related to himself and his own needs. He laughs a little, though. "If I could hop the whole planet, I would. The Nexus is as far as I'm getting, though."

[deoledig]

"I could offer you tea in the twenty-third century," Ianto comments, casting a glance down at the Starbucks cup in Jack's hand. (They're still around in the twenty-third century, those bastards and their grumpy baristas.) "... naturally decaffeinated tea."

[not_as_factual]

Part of Jack really doesn't think he should pop off to another universe in another century when Alice is at home with the baby, but the truth of the matter is that he needs at least a moment to collect himself. "I'd like that," he answers quietly.

[deoledig]

Maybe Ianto can see the hesitation on Jack's face, or maybe he just knows innately that the other man has other concerns than his own wishes, which tends to come with parenthood and responsibility. "I think we can put you back when you came from," he reassures, "if you'd like to go now. Otherwise, I'll just leave it as an open invitation." Ianto has become a rather considerate sort that way.

[not_as_factual]

"If you can put me back," Jack says, laughing a little, "then I'll go now. I've got a little time, anyway." It shouldn't hurt, or at least that's what he's telling himself.

[deoledig]

"Good," Ianto notes, looking pleased. He gets to his feet and draws his PINpoint from his pocket, then offers a gentlemanly arm to Jack.

[not_as_factual]

Jack sets his Starbucks cup aside and stands from the couch, smirking at the novelty of being offered Ianto's arm in a gentlemanly fashion. This never happens, so he'll enjoy it for now. He links his arm with Ianto's and waits for the PIN to be activated.

[deoledig]

Yes, well, this Jack comes from a world without Torchwood ... so, maybe his Ianto Jones is just really weird. (Not that Ianto knows any of that definitively, but he's sort of cottoned on.) "Here we go," Ianto warns, before activating the PIN. Then they're promptly off to twenty-third century Cardiff with a bit of a poit!