OOC: LOG: ‘Why is Ianto wearing a suit?’
Who: Ianto notjustateaboy, Rose eating_chips, Mickey mickeynotricky, alterna-Owen(a) docisin, alterna-Jack thedashinghero, Mr. Snuffles the sabre-toothed cat.
When: Today
Where: Torchwood Three (B - the alternate world)
What: Ianto landing in a Torchwood that isn’t his, Rose and Mickey acting like seven year olds, Jack being bookish, Owen being a woman, Jack and Ianto having a heart to heart.
Why: CRACK! After this and running parallel with this
The smoke cleared and a devastated Ianto stood at the desk where the happy curious one had been moments earlier. Tear filled eyes looking at the object in shock and dropping it before lifting his head to look at Jack...Jack who was no longer in front of him.
Rose blinked a few times, then frowned. "Awww, man!", she huffed, "It doesn't do what I want it to at all and....." She paused, looking at Ianto. "...Okay, why are you wearing a suit and why are you crying?"
He blinked looking at her and coughed pulling down his waistcoat as he straightened and looked back at her, "Rose?"
"Ianto?" Jack asked, coming out of the archives. It was rare that he did so, but Ianto crying was bad. "What's wrong?" he asked quietly.
"...Yeah", said Rose slowly, "Remember me? You work for me. Sign your pay-check?". She frowned. "Did the doo-dad do something to your brain or summat?", she looked at Jack, "I think it broke him"
Ianto looked back at him before frowning softly. "Jack I...you deal with Rose I need to think... "He looked at Rose. "No you don't he does."
"What?" Jack blinked, tilting his head. "Me? Sign paychecks?" he chuckled. "You know I don't leave the archives if I can help it."
"The ar..." He looked Back at her, "What does that thing do?" He asked pointing at the doodad.
"I should bloody think he doesn't!", said Rose, annoyed, "It's my way of getting back home, I said in the meeting you were too busy trying to feel Mickey's leg up in to listen to"
He blinked at her, "I don't think I'm...I'm not who you think I am." He replied before sitting down with a bump. He was having a hell of a morning.
Jack blushed at the mention of Ianto feeling up Mickey, and ducked his head. "It allows you to travel between realities. You must have swapped places with the Ianto from our reality."
The Welshman looked at Jack’s blush in confusion. "That must be it." He replied with a frown looking back at Rose "I should probably get back somehow." He replied softly not even sure he could face him right now.
"....Well, bollocks", said Rose, then sighed, "Sorry, Ianto, mate, didn't mean for you to come here". She gave the machine a poke. "I think it's got to recharge or something"
"Oh." He replied with a frown setting his hands on his hips and stepping back. "What do I do till then?"
Jack shrugged. "I could make you a cup of coffee if you like?" he offered.
Ianto looked at him. "I...coffee...me ...no its alright I’ll make it. He replied slipping out of the room avoiding Jack
"Yeah, Jack can make you a cup of coffee", Rose nodded, standing, picking up the machine, "I'll give this to Mickey, he can do his thing with it...oh watch out for..." As Ianto stepped out, a sabre-toothed cat bounced at him with a growl.
Jack looked surprised at the fact that Ianto could make coffee, before running after him and pulling the cat back. "Shh," he calmed it, stroking its fur. "It's alright, don't growl."
Ianto screamed falling to the floor looking up at the huge cat before sitting up. "Don’t tell me its called Myfanwy."
The sabre tooth struggled against Jack, before purring happily. "Meet Mr. Snuffles", said Rose with a chuckle, walking out.
"He's nice, once you get to know him," Jack added, before offering the big cat a treat.
"Mr Snuffles?" He asked before looking at her and standing composing himself. "Would you like me to do something whilst he recharges it. Clean up organise the archives. I know from experience Jack's organisation leaves something to be desired. He replied looking at the cat.
"....It does not," Jack replied, offended. "My archives are perfectly organized."
"Yeah", grinned Rose, then blinked at him, several times, "You. Ianto Jones. Want to....clean?"
Ianto shrugged softly. "It's what I do for Jack." He replied softly before frowning at the name.
Rose caught it. "Oh....he told you?", she asked him softly, reaching out a hand, placing it on his arm, "I’m sorry, love"
He pulled his arm away dropping his head "I...I'm sorry I can't not right now..please give me something to do." He whispered.
Jack glanced at the two of them, confused, before heading back into the archives. It obviously wasn't any of his business.
Rose gave him a soft smile. "Come on, you can try and tidy up the mess the other Ianto won't clean", she offered, walking with him into the Hub proper.
He nodded following her far more private and internal than his counterpart. Jack's words still tearing through his mind breaking his heart. He needed something to do, to focus on to keep him going.
Mickey blinked when he saw Rose and Ianto. "Rose, why is Ianto in a suit?" he asked suspiciously.
Rose cast him a worried glance, after all, she'd spent the vast majority of her time with the internal type, she knew the signs. "Here", she said softly, waving at a desk piled high with papers, "He's been 'doing these tomorrow' for a month now. She looked at Mickey. "This is our home world Ianto, your machine is crap"
He looked at Mickey and recognition set in before walking to the desk. "My machine?" He asked confused looking at the papers and mechanically setting to work.
"I was talking to him", Rose jabbed a thumb in the direction of her best friend
"....You messed with the bloody machine?!" Mickey exclaimed, dropping another pile of papers in utter shock. "Rose Tyler how many times have I said DON'T MESS WITH THE BLOODY MACHINE. Oh hell, Ianto, I'm sorry about this, mate."
Ianto nodded, "I'd just appreciate getting home again."
"I only pressed a button!", protested Rose, "I wanted to see if it bloody worked!"
"Yeah, well you might be in charge around here but I'M IN CHARGE OF THE DOO-DADS. Rose no touchy until Mickey gives the all-clear. So no more button pressing," Mickey grumbled, before turning to Ianto. "I'll see what I can do, mate, but there's no guarantee it'll be anytime soon."
"Well, YOU shouldn't have left it where I could find it!", said Rose smugly, "...in a drawer in the vaults, hidden in a box, under a pile of papers, under lock and key. Honestly, anyone could find it"
Mickey rolled his eyes, and crossed his arms. "I'm telling your mum," he sulked.
"You can't tell my mum!", gasped Rose, "That is SO unfair. Snitch"
Mickey smirked. "It's totally fair, you stole my doo-dad and messed with it."
"Thank You." Ianto looked at them both before frowning and looking back down at the papers blinking rapidly and blowing out slowly as he worked organising the desk.
Rose gave Ianto a smile. "You do the paperwork, one sec", she said, before DIVING at Mickey's feet, knocking him over and pinning him down, starting to hock up a loogie.
"OI!" Mickey yelped, wrestling her. "Don't make me sic Jake on you," he growled.
.
Ianto heard the noise and stared at them before shuddering and having to leave the room. "Excuse me." He murmured before walking off to the archives he came to a stop realising his refuge had gone and Jack was now there and so sighed walking over to the coffee machine starting it up
"Say uncle!", said Rose, dangling her well formed loogie above Mickey's head.
He turned away concentrating on the machine his hand trembling before he got a hold of himself making the coffee.
" Augh, Rose, that's disgusting," Mickey, replied, making a face before shoving her off. "Go prance about on the roof or summat," he grumbled.
Jack had peeked his head out of the archives again at the noise, and noticed Ianto at the coffee machine. He looked...sad, still, and Jack felt sorry for him. "Can I help?" he asked quietly, wandering over to him.
Rose giggled, rolling onto the floor beside him, before standing up. "I don't wanna, it's cold", she offered him her hand, "Come on, you lump"
Mickey took the offered hand, rolling his eyes again at the nickname. "What're we gonna do about him?" he sighed, pointing at Ianto.
Ianto looked at him before looking away. "I'm sorry I know its not you and you're just his alternate but I just can't look at you right now..." He replied as the coffee spilled over on his hand. He winced in pain shaking it looking for something to wipe the coffee off with as it burned.
Rose pulled him up and sighed. "I dunno", she murmured, "He's....had a rough time of it. He can just hang around here until we can get him back. Mum'll put him up at night"
"Here, let me," Jack protested, taking Ianto's hand and running it under cold water, before rubbing it soothingly. "I'm sorry for whatever it is the other me did," he said sincerely. "I know I'd never hurt you on purpose, no matter what reality."
Ianto let him before watching Jack's hands so familiar to him. "I wouldn't be too sure." He replied softly
"Yeah....I read the entries, I feel sorry for the bloke. Maybe bein' here's a good thing for him," Mickey pondered, glancing at Ianto and Jack.
"Probably is, give them both space", said Rose, then paled, "...Oh bugger. If their Ianto is here...."
"I wouldn't," Jack replied firmly, looking up at him. "I don't hurt people. At least, I try not to. Actually, I pretty much avoid people, so it's kind of hard to hurt them," he chuckled, embarrassed.
Ianto sighed, "He's fallen in love with someone else...he does that a lot apparently. I just..." He shook his head breaking Jack's clear gaze.
Jack sighed. "I know how you feel. Our Ianto is like that...always off with someone else. He never stays with just one person. Sometimes I wish he would, but..." he shrugged again, reluctantly removing his fingers from Ianto's hand.
Mickey groaned. "That means our Ianto is over there giving Jack a hell of a time."
"And every bugger else while he's at it", Rose winced, then considered, "Though it DOES mean he's not hitting on US for once"
"I doubt its the same thing somehow." He replied looking down. "I dunno if you think that you shagging Owen is a way to show me how much you love me then I'm afraid that's definitely a 51st century thing because it's lost on me." He whispered his voice breaking before he pulled his hand away. God I wish I hadn't woken up this morning." He whispered
Jack wrapped his arms around Ianto when his voice broke, and shook his head. "I don't understand a lot of what you just said, but I can tell this is killing you. Talk to me?"
Ianto tried to pull away vainly as Jack's arms held him firmly before he broke down his face buried in Jack's neck in a way he wished he could do with his own Jack. His hands pawing at his back helplessly. Jack but not Jack the whole scenario devastatingly painful.
"Hey, you're right! That's fantastic!" Mickey beamed. "I could do with a break from that."
"At least he won't be feeling your leg up again", grinned Rose.
Jack rubbed his back soothingly, whispering words of comfort and reassurance into his ear. He stroked his hair and held him close in a way that he'd wanted to do with his Ianto for a long time.
Ianto stood solidly holding onto him before he calmed himself pulling his head away "I'm sorry." He whispered pulling out his handkerchief and wiping his face.
"Ugh, yeah, that was bloody awful," Mickey complained, making a face again.
"Bet you don't complain when Jake does it", Rose smirked.
"Don't be," Jack murmured, his fingers reaching up to brush away Ianto's tears before he could stop them.
Mickey blushed. "He doesn't do that!" he stuttered.
Ianto let him folding up his handkerchief. "God this must just look so pathetic."
"Then why are you blushing?", smirked Rose.
"I'm doing no such thing," Mickey lied, jabbing Rose in the side. "Stop smirking at me."
Jack shook his head, tugging Ianto into another hug. "Not pathetic at all. I've been around for a long time, I understand."
Rose giggled, bouncing aside. "MICKEY LOVES JAAAAAKE MICKEY LOVES JAAAAAKE"
"Rose, shut up, he'll hear you!" Mickey exclaimed, wanting to crawl under the desk and die.
Ianto pulled away. "You'll forgive me if I don't." He replied softly before looking back at the singing and sighing looking back at him. "It must be I know you think we're a little backwards and quaint I certainly don't know what you must think of me. If my counterpart isn't with you this must be very bizarre for you."
"MICKEY LOVES JAAAAAKE", Rose giggled.
"WE ALL KNOW, FUCKING SHUT UP", shouted a feminine voice form the autopsy pit
"I what?" Jack blinked. "I don't think you're backwards at all, Ianto is the backwards one," he replied, frowning. "But you're right, this is bizarre. Normally you wouldn't look twice at me unless you needed a quick shag."
He looked at him confused. "How is he backwards?" He asked before lookng at him. "You mean when you need a quick shag?"
"I hate you all," Mickey groaned, glaring at Rose. "AND YOU SHUT THE HELL UP, OWENA," he yelled.
Ianto blinked thinking he'd misheard. "Owena?"
Rose grinned, leaning in and kissing his cheek. "And we LOVE you! Especially Jake"
Jack shook his head, blushing again. "Me? No, I'm not like him. And Owena's our medic, she's down in the autopsy pit right now."
"You shut up, you fucking computer nerd", a short woman stopped up the steps, wearing a lab coat and a scowl, "I'm trying to work down here and all I can hear is you lot fucking bitching"
"Oh..." He replied softly before looking at the blush on Jack's cheeks. "Oh I guess you and her...well I suppose it would happen in every reality wouldn't it." He replied softly
Jack stared. "Me and her? Owena?" he laughed, shaking his head. "Never. We're complete opposites."
"He fucking wishes", snorted Owena, then blinked, "....Why is Ianto wearing a suit?"
Ianto looked at her and then Jack before sighing and running a hand through his hair stepping back. "Well you don't seem to have the same problem in my reality." He added to Jack before looking at her and stepping away making another coffee.
"What?" Jack asked, confused. "He's not our Ianto, he's a different one," he explained to Owena, smoothing out his own suit jacket a little.
"...", Owena mulled this over, "Rose played with the doodad, didn't she?"
"Only a little bit!", complained Rose.
Ianto sighed. "It's not that difficult in my reality you fell in love with her. Oh forget it." He replied setting the mug down and sitting on the sofa.
"Only a lot," Mickey groaned. "I'm telling her mum."
Jack stared at him again, before sitting down next to him. "I broke your heart, didn't I?" he asked softly.
Owena blinked. "Wot?", she asked, then snorted, pointing at Jack, "Him?"
Rose, showing her best leadership skills, blew a raspberry at Mickey.
Ianto frowned and looked at him "Yes...you did about." He looked at his watch.
"Half an hour ago." He murmured before looking back at her with a frown.
Owena blinked. "Unless he grew breasts for half an hour, I really doubt that happened"
Mickey stuck out his tongue in a truly mature fashion in response.
"Not in this reality in mine."
Jack sighed, glancing down. "I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do?"
"Oh.....kay", Owena shook her head, "Yeah, that's fucked up, that is"
Ianto shook his head. "No, not really. I just don't understand that's all."
"I don't either. But then, I'm hardly the expert on stuff like that, it's been a long time since I've been in a real relationship," Jack admitted.
Ianto sighed, "Oh...more one night stands than anything else?"
"No," Jack replied, frowning. "I'm just....alone," he said quietly.
"Jack?", Owena shook her head, "No, he's a fucking puppy. Hasn't loved anyone since the...incident"
"Oh...the incident?" He asked
Jack shook his head, clearly not wanting to talk about it.
Ianto nodded, "Sorry, it's not my place." He whispered with a sigh. "I'll get back to working." He murmured walking back to the office.
"Long story", said Rose quietly, frowning at him, "It's alright, Ianto, we'll find a way to get you home"
Ianto nodded, "Although I don't think they'd mind that much if you didn't manage it. By the sounds of it my counterpart sounds right up Jack's street."
Mickey frowned, crossing his arms again. "Don't think that, mate. I know your Jack too."
Rose looked and Mickey and nodded. "He's right", she said, "We met Jack before you did....he's just... he doesn't get how the twenty first century works"
"I think its safe to say I know him a little better than you do and lets face it he's more of a free sex polygamist than I ever will be. he lived through the 19th century and the twentieth he must know by know."
Rose sighed. "He's a slow learner", she murmured, "And you can't change how your heart works"
"I know that." He whispered. "But I...to be part of Jack's life I have to live knowing ...knowing that I'm not." He frowned.
"Of course you are", said Rose, "He loves you. He was a hell of a mess when he was talking about what happened"
"He was that," Mickey replied, nodding. "Rose hugged the screen, I saw."
Ianto frowned softly watching them. "He's in love with a million people. How do I hold any place in his heart?"
"Because you do", Rose smiled and shrugged, "How do any of us do it? He's Jack"
"Way I figure it, he's like a kid inside," Mickey explained thoughtfully. "You make him happy, he's attached to you for life. He also happens to be a greedy kid, so he's attached to a lot of people. But he has his favourites, and as far as I can tell you're his most favourite right now."
"Right now..." He whispered softly. "Yeah. That's the problem." He whispered going to his desk.
Rose cast Mickey a LOOK, then followed Ianto. "Look, personally, I don't think he'll ever get over the Doctor...but you, he can't have someone else abandon him, too many people have"
Ianto looked at her. "The Doctor...? I never knew he was ever in.." He shook his head his chest tightening up look I don't think I can cope with...excuse me."
"...Oh, bollocks", said Rose, "Wait, Ianto, you can't go out! It's not...completely safe"
"I think that's a bit of an understatement there, Rose," Mickey countered.
"Ianto walked through the door running up the hall to the tourist shop needing some air.
Jack, who'd been watching quietly, followed him up. "I'll make sure he stays safe," he reassured Rose.
Ianto stepped out onto the street before looking out at the waterfront letting the cool air hit him.
"Thanks", said Rose with a soft smile, "Don't let him die, other-you will kill me"
Ianto shook his head shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked along the quayside
"You'd know I'd protect him with my gazillion lives," Jack replied, smiling back at her. "Ianto, watch out!" he shouted, when he walked outside. A cyberman was headed straight for him, and Jack pulled out his gun, shooting out a pulse that disabled its emotional inhibitors.
Ianto looked up his eyes widening as he saw the cyberman stepping back Lisa running through his head reaching for his gun that was missing.
"It's not safe," Jack told him, tugging on his arm. "Come back inside, I don't want anything happening to you."
Ianto stared at the cyberman as he was dragged in. "What..." He whispered his eyes locked on the creature.
"Cybermen," Jack explained, shaking his head. "We're still dealing with them, I don't know what the situation is in your reality."
"No I ...I know what they are." He replied in a voice that knew all too well as the door closed behind them.
Jack glanced at him. "You too?" he murmured, recognizing that voice as his own.
Ianto looked at him. "Her name was Lisa."
"Lisa..." Jack smiled softly. "Pretty name. Mine was John. I...don't tell Rose," he added, "I never did."
Ianto nodded before his brow furrowed, "I betrayed Jack that night."
"What do you mean?" Jack asked, curious.
Ianto shook his head. "I...I don't even know why I should tell you this...I guess I still feel like I'm betraying you if you don't know."
"I'm not him though," Jack pointed out. "You only just met me. But I told you about John, and I've never told anyone that before."
Ianto looked at him. "She...I rescued her from the converters but...I was too late they were half way through ...I hid her in the basement...thought I could save her...of course I couldn't. But I couldn't give up on her. Needless to say it went wrong...she escaped and the cyberman in her it just..." He dropped his head. "I'd lost her a long time ago".
"I'm sorry," Jack murmured, touching his arm. "I had to kill John. I....it killed me afterwards, literally. I couldn't take losing him, so I...." he shook his head again. "But I can't die, so it didn't make much of a difference," he murmured.
Ianto frowned softly. "John...time agent? John Hart?"
Jack blinked. "How on Earth did you know that?" he asked, surprised.
Ianto frowned softly, "We have one, red military coat and sword. Weapons hidden all over. Far too in love with murder and mayhem."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Mayhem I can see, but murder? Weapons? You have a strange reality over there," he chuckled.
He raised a brow, "He destroyed half of Cardiff."
Jack's expression was one of pure disbelief. "He....what?! No. You're kidding!"
He shook his head. "No...he was being controlled apparently by your brother."
Jack froze. "Gray?" he whispered. "You know about Gray?"
Ianto nodded watching him. "I’m sorry."
"No, it's just...you know so much about me that I've never told anyone...and I've barely just met you. It's disconcerting," Jack explained.
Ianto frowned softly. "I shouldn't have said anything. I just...if it's any consideration I don't think Jack had much choice in telling us and if he did well...chances are he would've told Gwen before any of us anyway."
"Gwen?" Jack replied, tilting his head. "Who's that?"
He looked at him and sighed. "She's another member of our team...you're very fond of...you're in love with her too I suppose."
"We don't have a Gwen here," Jack said with a shrug. "She sounds like a good friend of the other me, if I tell her things. But I don't have anyone like that here."
"She is ..." He replied with a frown. "I think if she hadn't been with Rhys well...she'd probably have been more to Jack."
Jack shrugged again. "I'd drive myself crazy if I worried about what ifs, I've lived too long for that," he chuckled.
Ianto nodded, "I suppose." He whispered "I just don't...I'm not generous enough...or exciting enough...or caring enough for him. I don't know."
Jack frowned. "You seem like plenty of all of those things to me," he pointed out.
"Like you said you've only just met me." He replied "I think if I was enough...then maybe he wouldn't need to fall in love with every person that he set eyes on. "
"Maybe he doesn't need to," Jack shrugged. "Maybe it's just how he is. Did you know about that when you first fell for him?"
"What that he was in love with everybody? No not really. I knew he flirted a lot but that’s just Jack I didn't think that it was serious."
"Is there a difference?" Jack asked. "If he loves everyone...maybe he's just got a big heart. Some people are like that. It's not that you're not enough for him."
"How can I possibly be. When he wants Owen and Gwen and probably Tosh and the pizza girl as well" He frowned softly "How can I mean that much when he'd be just as happy shagging the postman?"
"Is he though? Is he really shagging everyone else?" Jack asked quietly.
Ianto frowned, "I don’t know...he says he hasn't."
"Then I would believe him," Jack reassured him. "If there's one thing about me that's gotta stay constant...I'm honest. And I'm assuming the other me is too because he told you about it, instead of hiding it from you like he could've."
Ianto nodded looking at him "Do you think so?" He asked softly. "But he'll get bored I imagine."
"Bored?" Jack glanced at him. "If I got bored easily, I wouldn't be working in the archives," he pointed out.
Ianto smiled a little. “He doesn't work in the archives. He more sort of flits and flirts about."
Jack chuckled again. "Sounds like Ianto. But still...if he got bored, you'd think he'd have gotten bored already and moved on earlier."
Ianto blinked softly frowning gently. "I'm that dull?" He asked
"No, no, no, that's not what I meant. I just meant that if he gets bored, he wouldn't have stuck around because his attention would've drifted no matter how interesting you were," Jack clarified.
"Oh..." He replied. "Do you think I should've just I dunno accepted it?"
"That depends," Jack said softly, looking at him for a few moments. "Do you love him?"
Ianto frowned looking down at his hands with a resigned sigh before nodding helplessly. "Yes." He murmured. "Unfortunately it seems now."
"If you love him, then you should accept him for who he is," Jack countered, shaking his head. "That's what love is about, isn't it? I still love Ianto, even though he really does shag everyone, unlike your Jack."
Ianto lifted his head. "You love him...me...the other me?"
Jack blushed again and nodded. "It's ridiculous, I know, but I can't help it."
"But how do you...it must hurt...it must hurt so deeply I'm sorry."
Jack shrugged. "It hurts, but it makes me jealous of what you have. Your Jack still loves you, even if he loves others too. He loves you enough to be honest with you, and not sleep around behind your back even if it's in his nature. I would treasure that."
Ianto looked at him quietly "Does that feeling of not being enough go away?" He whispered.
"No, but it's different for me. He doesn't love me at all, I'm just another shag to him. Just a piece of flesh," Jack sighed, glancing away. "I don't think yours treated you like that. At least I hope not."
"I...he did for months...it took being taken away for a year for him to actually ask me out properly."
Jack raised an eyebrow, wondering if that tactic would work for him. "But he did then. Ask you out. And you've been dating since?"
Ianto nodded . Have you...well I mean have you told him how you feel?"
Jack laughed. "Yeah. He blew it off, insulted me for it, even...he's a bastard sometimes."
Ianto frowned, "I'm sorry...Ah you sure he took you seriously...he might have thought you were joking."
"Who knows?" Jack replied, shrugging. "I generally don't joke about things though. At least, not serious things like that."
Ianto frowned softly. "If he's really that cruel why do you love him?"
"I don't know," Jack said after a few long moments. "He's not cruel all the time, he has a very charismatic personality that just kind of...draws you in. He just...has his moments."
Ianto frowned softly "Well If he's that bad...you could probably do a lot better."
"Me?" Jack blushed again, shaking his head. "Doubtful, considering."
"Considering what?" He asked gently, watching him.
"I'm...awkward, around people. I don't have that kind of charming personality. And I'm not exactly a sharing person, either...there's too many things in my past that would just scare people away," Jack said quietly.
"Jack's past never scared me away." He murmured softly
"It didn't?" Jack blinked, surprised. "He told you about it?"
"Some of it, he's got a lot of secrets though." He admitted
"Understandable. I'm surprised I've told you any of it at all though," Jack replied thoughtfully. "I must love you a lot."
"Well its never really been by choice, it's more sort of been found out really." He murmured before sighing looking at the tourist door. "How many are out there?"
"Ah....I don't know. Nobody knows, really. It's an ongoing fight," Jack sighed. "I should get you a gun."
Ianto nodded, "I've been going out into the field more back home anyway I suppose."
"Good, the experience'll be helpful over here. Just don't get into too much trouble, and make sure I'm with you whenever you're out there." Jack paused for a minute. "Have I died in front of you over there?"
Ianto nodded, "More times than I'd like to count."
"Good, you know what happens then," Jack replied with a nod. "I'll be pretty disoriented for a bit, but I'll come 'round after a few minutes."
Ianto nodded, "I know." He replied softly. "I just pull you out of the way and make sure you have your coat” He added with a slight smile.
"My coat?" Jack asked, confused.
Ianto blinked at him, "Long blue woolen coat, circa world war two?"
Jack shook his head. "I was in World War Two, but I never had a coat like that."
"Oh...I always loved that coat...It always smelled of him." He whispered before frowning as he sat down on the tourist table. "How can I be so upset and still miss him this much?"
"Because you love him," Jack said simply, sitting down in a chair nearby.
Ianto frowned softly. "But he..." Ianto trailed off frowning. "I was so hurt and so angry."
"But you've had time to think about it now," Jack reminded him. "Could you really live your life without him because of this?"
Ianto frowned softly before shaking his head. "I don't think I can." He whispered softly before sighing. "I hate falling in love...it's always so painful."
When: Today
Where: Torchwood Three (B - the alternate world)
What: Ianto landing in a Torchwood that isn’t his, Rose and Mickey acting like seven year olds, Jack being bookish, Owen being a woman, Jack and Ianto having a heart to heart.
Why: CRACK! After this and running parallel with this
The smoke cleared and a devastated Ianto stood at the desk where the happy curious one had been moments earlier. Tear filled eyes looking at the object in shock and dropping it before lifting his head to look at Jack...Jack who was no longer in front of him.
Rose blinked a few times, then frowned. "Awww, man!", she huffed, "It doesn't do what I want it to at all and....." She paused, looking at Ianto. "...Okay, why are you wearing a suit and why are you crying?"
He blinked looking at her and coughed pulling down his waistcoat as he straightened and looked back at her, "Rose?"
"Ianto?" Jack asked, coming out of the archives. It was rare that he did so, but Ianto crying was bad. "What's wrong?" he asked quietly.
"...Yeah", said Rose slowly, "Remember me? You work for me. Sign your pay-check?". She frowned. "Did the doo-dad do something to your brain or summat?", she looked at Jack, "I think it broke him"
Ianto looked back at him before frowning softly. "Jack I...you deal with Rose I need to think... "He looked at Rose. "No you don't he does."
"What?" Jack blinked, tilting his head. "Me? Sign paychecks?" he chuckled. "You know I don't leave the archives if I can help it."
"The ar..." He looked Back at her, "What does that thing do?" He asked pointing at the doodad.
"I should bloody think he doesn't!", said Rose, annoyed, "It's my way of getting back home, I said in the meeting you were too busy trying to feel Mickey's leg up in to listen to"
He blinked at her, "I don't think I'm...I'm not who you think I am." He replied before sitting down with a bump. He was having a hell of a morning.
Jack blushed at the mention of Ianto feeling up Mickey, and ducked his head. "It allows you to travel between realities. You must have swapped places with the Ianto from our reality."
The Welshman looked at Jack’s blush in confusion. "That must be it." He replied with a frown looking back at Rose "I should probably get back somehow." He replied softly not even sure he could face him right now.
"....Well, bollocks", said Rose, then sighed, "Sorry, Ianto, mate, didn't mean for you to come here". She gave the machine a poke. "I think it's got to recharge or something"
"Oh." He replied with a frown setting his hands on his hips and stepping back. "What do I do till then?"
Jack shrugged. "I could make you a cup of coffee if you like?" he offered.
Ianto looked at him. "I...coffee...me ...no its alright I’ll make it. He replied slipping out of the room avoiding Jack
"Yeah, Jack can make you a cup of coffee", Rose nodded, standing, picking up the machine, "I'll give this to Mickey, he can do his thing with it...oh watch out for..." As Ianto stepped out, a sabre-toothed cat bounced at him with a growl.
Jack looked surprised at the fact that Ianto could make coffee, before running after him and pulling the cat back. "Shh," he calmed it, stroking its fur. "It's alright, don't growl."
Ianto screamed falling to the floor looking up at the huge cat before sitting up. "Don’t tell me its called Myfanwy."
The sabre tooth struggled against Jack, before purring happily. "Meet Mr. Snuffles", said Rose with a chuckle, walking out.
"He's nice, once you get to know him," Jack added, before offering the big cat a treat.
"Mr Snuffles?" He asked before looking at her and standing composing himself. "Would you like me to do something whilst he recharges it. Clean up organise the archives. I know from experience Jack's organisation leaves something to be desired. He replied looking at the cat.
"....It does not," Jack replied, offended. "My archives are perfectly organized."
"Yeah", grinned Rose, then blinked at him, several times, "You. Ianto Jones. Want to....clean?"
Ianto shrugged softly. "It's what I do for Jack." He replied softly before frowning at the name.
Rose caught it. "Oh....he told you?", she asked him softly, reaching out a hand, placing it on his arm, "I’m sorry, love"
He pulled his arm away dropping his head "I...I'm sorry I can't not right now..please give me something to do." He whispered.
Jack glanced at the two of them, confused, before heading back into the archives. It obviously wasn't any of his business.
Rose gave him a soft smile. "Come on, you can try and tidy up the mess the other Ianto won't clean", she offered, walking with him into the Hub proper.
He nodded following her far more private and internal than his counterpart. Jack's words still tearing through his mind breaking his heart. He needed something to do, to focus on to keep him going.
Mickey blinked when he saw Rose and Ianto. "Rose, why is Ianto in a suit?" he asked suspiciously.
Rose cast him a worried glance, after all, she'd spent the vast majority of her time with the internal type, she knew the signs. "Here", she said softly, waving at a desk piled high with papers, "He's been 'doing these tomorrow' for a month now. She looked at Mickey. "This is our home world Ianto, your machine is crap"
He looked at Mickey and recognition set in before walking to the desk. "My machine?" He asked confused looking at the papers and mechanically setting to work.
"I was talking to him", Rose jabbed a thumb in the direction of her best friend
"....You messed with the bloody machine?!" Mickey exclaimed, dropping another pile of papers in utter shock. "Rose Tyler how many times have I said DON'T MESS WITH THE BLOODY MACHINE. Oh hell, Ianto, I'm sorry about this, mate."
Ianto nodded, "I'd just appreciate getting home again."
"I only pressed a button!", protested Rose, "I wanted to see if it bloody worked!"
"Yeah, well you might be in charge around here but I'M IN CHARGE OF THE DOO-DADS. Rose no touchy until Mickey gives the all-clear. So no more button pressing," Mickey grumbled, before turning to Ianto. "I'll see what I can do, mate, but there's no guarantee it'll be anytime soon."
"Well, YOU shouldn't have left it where I could find it!", said Rose smugly, "...in a drawer in the vaults, hidden in a box, under a pile of papers, under lock and key. Honestly, anyone could find it"
Mickey rolled his eyes, and crossed his arms. "I'm telling your mum," he sulked.
"You can't tell my mum!", gasped Rose, "That is SO unfair. Snitch"
Mickey smirked. "It's totally fair, you stole my doo-dad and messed with it."
"Thank You." Ianto looked at them both before frowning and looking back down at the papers blinking rapidly and blowing out slowly as he worked organising the desk.
Rose gave Ianto a smile. "You do the paperwork, one sec", she said, before DIVING at Mickey's feet, knocking him over and pinning him down, starting to hock up a loogie.
"OI!" Mickey yelped, wrestling her. "Don't make me sic Jake on you," he growled.
.
Ianto heard the noise and stared at them before shuddering and having to leave the room. "Excuse me." He murmured before walking off to the archives he came to a stop realising his refuge had gone and Jack was now there and so sighed walking over to the coffee machine starting it up
"Say uncle!", said Rose, dangling her well formed loogie above Mickey's head.
He turned away concentrating on the machine his hand trembling before he got a hold of himself making the coffee.
" Augh, Rose, that's disgusting," Mickey, replied, making a face before shoving her off. "Go prance about on the roof or summat," he grumbled.
Jack had peeked his head out of the archives again at the noise, and noticed Ianto at the coffee machine. He looked...sad, still, and Jack felt sorry for him. "Can I help?" he asked quietly, wandering over to him.
Rose giggled, rolling onto the floor beside him, before standing up. "I don't wanna, it's cold", she offered him her hand, "Come on, you lump"
Mickey took the offered hand, rolling his eyes again at the nickname. "What're we gonna do about him?" he sighed, pointing at Ianto.
Ianto looked at him before looking away. "I'm sorry I know its not you and you're just his alternate but I just can't look at you right now..." He replied as the coffee spilled over on his hand. He winced in pain shaking it looking for something to wipe the coffee off with as it burned.
Rose pulled him up and sighed. "I dunno", she murmured, "He's....had a rough time of it. He can just hang around here until we can get him back. Mum'll put him up at night"
"Here, let me," Jack protested, taking Ianto's hand and running it under cold water, before rubbing it soothingly. "I'm sorry for whatever it is the other me did," he said sincerely. "I know I'd never hurt you on purpose, no matter what reality."
Ianto let him before watching Jack's hands so familiar to him. "I wouldn't be too sure." He replied softly
"Yeah....I read the entries, I feel sorry for the bloke. Maybe bein' here's a good thing for him," Mickey pondered, glancing at Ianto and Jack.
"Probably is, give them both space", said Rose, then paled, "...Oh bugger. If their Ianto is here...."
"I wouldn't," Jack replied firmly, looking up at him. "I don't hurt people. At least, I try not to. Actually, I pretty much avoid people, so it's kind of hard to hurt them," he chuckled, embarrassed.
Ianto sighed, "He's fallen in love with someone else...he does that a lot apparently. I just..." He shook his head breaking Jack's clear gaze.
Jack sighed. "I know how you feel. Our Ianto is like that...always off with someone else. He never stays with just one person. Sometimes I wish he would, but..." he shrugged again, reluctantly removing his fingers from Ianto's hand.
Mickey groaned. "That means our Ianto is over there giving Jack a hell of a time."
"And every bugger else while he's at it", Rose winced, then considered, "Though it DOES mean he's not hitting on US for once"
"I doubt its the same thing somehow." He replied looking down. "I dunno if you think that you shagging Owen is a way to show me how much you love me then I'm afraid that's definitely a 51st century thing because it's lost on me." He whispered his voice breaking before he pulled his hand away. God I wish I hadn't woken up this morning." He whispered
Jack wrapped his arms around Ianto when his voice broke, and shook his head. "I don't understand a lot of what you just said, but I can tell this is killing you. Talk to me?"
Ianto tried to pull away vainly as Jack's arms held him firmly before he broke down his face buried in Jack's neck in a way he wished he could do with his own Jack. His hands pawing at his back helplessly. Jack but not Jack the whole scenario devastatingly painful.
"Hey, you're right! That's fantastic!" Mickey beamed. "I could do with a break from that."
"At least he won't be feeling your leg up again", grinned Rose.
Jack rubbed his back soothingly, whispering words of comfort and reassurance into his ear. He stroked his hair and held him close in a way that he'd wanted to do with his Ianto for a long time.
Ianto stood solidly holding onto him before he calmed himself pulling his head away "I'm sorry." He whispered pulling out his handkerchief and wiping his face.
"Ugh, yeah, that was bloody awful," Mickey complained, making a face again.
"Bet you don't complain when Jake does it", Rose smirked.
"Don't be," Jack murmured, his fingers reaching up to brush away Ianto's tears before he could stop them.
Mickey blushed. "He doesn't do that!" he stuttered.
Ianto let him folding up his handkerchief. "God this must just look so pathetic."
"Then why are you blushing?", smirked Rose.
"I'm doing no such thing," Mickey lied, jabbing Rose in the side. "Stop smirking at me."
Jack shook his head, tugging Ianto into another hug. "Not pathetic at all. I've been around for a long time, I understand."
Rose giggled, bouncing aside. "MICKEY LOVES JAAAAAKE MICKEY LOVES JAAAAAKE"
"Rose, shut up, he'll hear you!" Mickey exclaimed, wanting to crawl under the desk and die.
Ianto pulled away. "You'll forgive me if I don't." He replied softly before looking back at the singing and sighing looking back at him. "It must be I know you think we're a little backwards and quaint I certainly don't know what you must think of me. If my counterpart isn't with you this must be very bizarre for you."
"MICKEY LOVES JAAAAAKE", Rose giggled.
"WE ALL KNOW, FUCKING SHUT UP", shouted a feminine voice form the autopsy pit
"I what?" Jack blinked. "I don't think you're backwards at all, Ianto is the backwards one," he replied, frowning. "But you're right, this is bizarre. Normally you wouldn't look twice at me unless you needed a quick shag."
He looked at him confused. "How is he backwards?" He asked before lookng at him. "You mean when you need a quick shag?"
"I hate you all," Mickey groaned, glaring at Rose. "AND YOU SHUT THE HELL UP, OWENA," he yelled.
Ianto blinked thinking he'd misheard. "Owena?"
Rose grinned, leaning in and kissing his cheek. "And we LOVE you! Especially Jake"
Jack shook his head, blushing again. "Me? No, I'm not like him. And Owena's our medic, she's down in the autopsy pit right now."
"You shut up, you fucking computer nerd", a short woman stopped up the steps, wearing a lab coat and a scowl, "I'm trying to work down here and all I can hear is you lot fucking bitching"
"Oh..." He replied softly before looking at the blush on Jack's cheeks. "Oh I guess you and her...well I suppose it would happen in every reality wouldn't it." He replied softly
Jack stared. "Me and her? Owena?" he laughed, shaking his head. "Never. We're complete opposites."
"He fucking wishes", snorted Owena, then blinked, "....Why is Ianto wearing a suit?"
Ianto looked at her and then Jack before sighing and running a hand through his hair stepping back. "Well you don't seem to have the same problem in my reality." He added to Jack before looking at her and stepping away making another coffee.
"What?" Jack asked, confused. "He's not our Ianto, he's a different one," he explained to Owena, smoothing out his own suit jacket a little.
"...", Owena mulled this over, "Rose played with the doodad, didn't she?"
"Only a little bit!", complained Rose.
Ianto sighed. "It's not that difficult in my reality you fell in love with her. Oh forget it." He replied setting the mug down and sitting on the sofa.
"Only a lot," Mickey groaned. "I'm telling her mum."
Jack stared at him again, before sitting down next to him. "I broke your heart, didn't I?" he asked softly.
Owena blinked. "Wot?", she asked, then snorted, pointing at Jack, "Him?"
Rose, showing her best leadership skills, blew a raspberry at Mickey.
Ianto frowned and looked at him "Yes...you did about." He looked at his watch.
"Half an hour ago." He murmured before looking back at her with a frown.
Owena blinked. "Unless he grew breasts for half an hour, I really doubt that happened"
Mickey stuck out his tongue in a truly mature fashion in response.
"Not in this reality in mine."
Jack sighed, glancing down. "I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do?"
"Oh.....kay", Owena shook her head, "Yeah, that's fucked up, that is"
Ianto shook his head. "No, not really. I just don't understand that's all."
"I don't either. But then, I'm hardly the expert on stuff like that, it's been a long time since I've been in a real relationship," Jack admitted.
Ianto sighed, "Oh...more one night stands than anything else?"
"No," Jack replied, frowning. "I'm just....alone," he said quietly.
"Jack?", Owena shook her head, "No, he's a fucking puppy. Hasn't loved anyone since the...incident"
"Oh...the incident?" He asked
Jack shook his head, clearly not wanting to talk about it.
Ianto nodded, "Sorry, it's not my place." He whispered with a sigh. "I'll get back to working." He murmured walking back to the office.
"Long story", said Rose quietly, frowning at him, "It's alright, Ianto, we'll find a way to get you home"
Ianto nodded, "Although I don't think they'd mind that much if you didn't manage it. By the sounds of it my counterpart sounds right up Jack's street."
Mickey frowned, crossing his arms again. "Don't think that, mate. I know your Jack too."
Rose looked and Mickey and nodded. "He's right", she said, "We met Jack before you did....he's just... he doesn't get how the twenty first century works"
"I think its safe to say I know him a little better than you do and lets face it he's more of a free sex polygamist than I ever will be. he lived through the 19th century and the twentieth he must know by know."
Rose sighed. "He's a slow learner", she murmured, "And you can't change how your heart works"
"I know that." He whispered. "But I...to be part of Jack's life I have to live knowing ...knowing that I'm not." He frowned.
"Of course you are", said Rose, "He loves you. He was a hell of a mess when he was talking about what happened"
"He was that," Mickey replied, nodding. "Rose hugged the screen, I saw."
Ianto frowned softly watching them. "He's in love with a million people. How do I hold any place in his heart?"
"Because you do", Rose smiled and shrugged, "How do any of us do it? He's Jack"
"Way I figure it, he's like a kid inside," Mickey explained thoughtfully. "You make him happy, he's attached to you for life. He also happens to be a greedy kid, so he's attached to a lot of people. But he has his favourites, and as far as I can tell you're his most favourite right now."
"Right now..." He whispered softly. "Yeah. That's the problem." He whispered going to his desk.
Rose cast Mickey a LOOK, then followed Ianto. "Look, personally, I don't think he'll ever get over the Doctor...but you, he can't have someone else abandon him, too many people have"
Ianto looked at her. "The Doctor...? I never knew he was ever in.." He shook his head his chest tightening up look I don't think I can cope with...excuse me."
"...Oh, bollocks", said Rose, "Wait, Ianto, you can't go out! It's not...completely safe"
"I think that's a bit of an understatement there, Rose," Mickey countered.
"Ianto walked through the door running up the hall to the tourist shop needing some air.
Jack, who'd been watching quietly, followed him up. "I'll make sure he stays safe," he reassured Rose.
Ianto stepped out onto the street before looking out at the waterfront letting the cool air hit him.
"Thanks", said Rose with a soft smile, "Don't let him die, other-you will kill me"
Ianto shook his head shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked along the quayside
"You'd know I'd protect him with my gazillion lives," Jack replied, smiling back at her. "Ianto, watch out!" he shouted, when he walked outside. A cyberman was headed straight for him, and Jack pulled out his gun, shooting out a pulse that disabled its emotional inhibitors.
Ianto looked up his eyes widening as he saw the cyberman stepping back Lisa running through his head reaching for his gun that was missing.
"It's not safe," Jack told him, tugging on his arm. "Come back inside, I don't want anything happening to you."
Ianto stared at the cyberman as he was dragged in. "What..." He whispered his eyes locked on the creature.
"Cybermen," Jack explained, shaking his head. "We're still dealing with them, I don't know what the situation is in your reality."
"No I ...I know what they are." He replied in a voice that knew all too well as the door closed behind them.
Jack glanced at him. "You too?" he murmured, recognizing that voice as his own.
Ianto looked at him. "Her name was Lisa."
"Lisa..." Jack smiled softly. "Pretty name. Mine was John. I...don't tell Rose," he added, "I never did."
Ianto nodded before his brow furrowed, "I betrayed Jack that night."
"What do you mean?" Jack asked, curious.
Ianto shook his head. "I...I don't even know why I should tell you this...I guess I still feel like I'm betraying you if you don't know."
"I'm not him though," Jack pointed out. "You only just met me. But I told you about John, and I've never told anyone that before."
Ianto looked at him. "She...I rescued her from the converters but...I was too late they were half way through ...I hid her in the basement...thought I could save her...of course I couldn't. But I couldn't give up on her. Needless to say it went wrong...she escaped and the cyberman in her it just..." He dropped his head. "I'd lost her a long time ago".
"I'm sorry," Jack murmured, touching his arm. "I had to kill John. I....it killed me afterwards, literally. I couldn't take losing him, so I...." he shook his head again. "But I can't die, so it didn't make much of a difference," he murmured.
Ianto frowned softly. "John...time agent? John Hart?"
Jack blinked. "How on Earth did you know that?" he asked, surprised.
Ianto frowned softly, "We have one, red military coat and sword. Weapons hidden all over. Far too in love with murder and mayhem."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Mayhem I can see, but murder? Weapons? You have a strange reality over there," he chuckled.
He raised a brow, "He destroyed half of Cardiff."
Jack's expression was one of pure disbelief. "He....what?! No. You're kidding!"
He shook his head. "No...he was being controlled apparently by your brother."
Jack froze. "Gray?" he whispered. "You know about Gray?"
Ianto nodded watching him. "I’m sorry."
"No, it's just...you know so much about me that I've never told anyone...and I've barely just met you. It's disconcerting," Jack explained.
Ianto frowned softly. "I shouldn't have said anything. I just...if it's any consideration I don't think Jack had much choice in telling us and if he did well...chances are he would've told Gwen before any of us anyway."
"Gwen?" Jack replied, tilting his head. "Who's that?"
He looked at him and sighed. "She's another member of our team...you're very fond of...you're in love with her too I suppose."
"We don't have a Gwen here," Jack said with a shrug. "She sounds like a good friend of the other me, if I tell her things. But I don't have anyone like that here."
"She is ..." He replied with a frown. "I think if she hadn't been with Rhys well...she'd probably have been more to Jack."
Jack shrugged again. "I'd drive myself crazy if I worried about what ifs, I've lived too long for that," he chuckled.
Ianto nodded, "I suppose." He whispered "I just don't...I'm not generous enough...or exciting enough...or caring enough for him. I don't know."
Jack frowned. "You seem like plenty of all of those things to me," he pointed out.
"Like you said you've only just met me." He replied "I think if I was enough...then maybe he wouldn't need to fall in love with every person that he set eyes on. "
"Maybe he doesn't need to," Jack shrugged. "Maybe it's just how he is. Did you know about that when you first fell for him?"
"What that he was in love with everybody? No not really. I knew he flirted a lot but that’s just Jack I didn't think that it was serious."
"Is there a difference?" Jack asked. "If he loves everyone...maybe he's just got a big heart. Some people are like that. It's not that you're not enough for him."
"How can I possibly be. When he wants Owen and Gwen and probably Tosh and the pizza girl as well" He frowned softly "How can I mean that much when he'd be just as happy shagging the postman?"
"Is he though? Is he really shagging everyone else?" Jack asked quietly.
Ianto frowned, "I don’t know...he says he hasn't."
"Then I would believe him," Jack reassured him. "If there's one thing about me that's gotta stay constant...I'm honest. And I'm assuming the other me is too because he told you about it, instead of hiding it from you like he could've."
Ianto nodded looking at him "Do you think so?" He asked softly. "But he'll get bored I imagine."
"Bored?" Jack glanced at him. "If I got bored easily, I wouldn't be working in the archives," he pointed out.
Ianto smiled a little. “He doesn't work in the archives. He more sort of flits and flirts about."
Jack chuckled again. "Sounds like Ianto. But still...if he got bored, you'd think he'd have gotten bored already and moved on earlier."
Ianto blinked softly frowning gently. "I'm that dull?" He asked
"No, no, no, that's not what I meant. I just meant that if he gets bored, he wouldn't have stuck around because his attention would've drifted no matter how interesting you were," Jack clarified.
"Oh..." He replied. "Do you think I should've just I dunno accepted it?"
"That depends," Jack said softly, looking at him for a few moments. "Do you love him?"
Ianto frowned looking down at his hands with a resigned sigh before nodding helplessly. "Yes." He murmured. "Unfortunately it seems now."
"If you love him, then you should accept him for who he is," Jack countered, shaking his head. "That's what love is about, isn't it? I still love Ianto, even though he really does shag everyone, unlike your Jack."
Ianto lifted his head. "You love him...me...the other me?"
Jack blushed again and nodded. "It's ridiculous, I know, but I can't help it."
"But how do you...it must hurt...it must hurt so deeply I'm sorry."
Jack shrugged. "It hurts, but it makes me jealous of what you have. Your Jack still loves you, even if he loves others too. He loves you enough to be honest with you, and not sleep around behind your back even if it's in his nature. I would treasure that."
Ianto looked at him quietly "Does that feeling of not being enough go away?" He whispered.
"No, but it's different for me. He doesn't love me at all, I'm just another shag to him. Just a piece of flesh," Jack sighed, glancing away. "I don't think yours treated you like that. At least I hope not."
"I...he did for months...it took being taken away for a year for him to actually ask me out properly."
Jack raised an eyebrow, wondering if that tactic would work for him. "But he did then. Ask you out. And you've been dating since?"
Ianto nodded . Have you...well I mean have you told him how you feel?"
Jack laughed. "Yeah. He blew it off, insulted me for it, even...he's a bastard sometimes."
Ianto frowned, "I'm sorry...Ah you sure he took you seriously...he might have thought you were joking."
"Who knows?" Jack replied, shrugging. "I generally don't joke about things though. At least, not serious things like that."
Ianto frowned softly. "If he's really that cruel why do you love him?"
"I don't know," Jack said after a few long moments. "He's not cruel all the time, he has a very charismatic personality that just kind of...draws you in. He just...has his moments."
Ianto frowned softly "Well If he's that bad...you could probably do a lot better."
"Me?" Jack blushed again, shaking his head. "Doubtful, considering."
"Considering what?" He asked gently, watching him.
"I'm...awkward, around people. I don't have that kind of charming personality. And I'm not exactly a sharing person, either...there's too many things in my past that would just scare people away," Jack said quietly.
"Jack's past never scared me away." He murmured softly
"It didn't?" Jack blinked, surprised. "He told you about it?"
"Some of it, he's got a lot of secrets though." He admitted
"Understandable. I'm surprised I've told you any of it at all though," Jack replied thoughtfully. "I must love you a lot."
"Well its never really been by choice, it's more sort of been found out really." He murmured before sighing looking at the tourist door. "How many are out there?"
"Ah....I don't know. Nobody knows, really. It's an ongoing fight," Jack sighed. "I should get you a gun."
Ianto nodded, "I've been going out into the field more back home anyway I suppose."
"Good, the experience'll be helpful over here. Just don't get into too much trouble, and make sure I'm with you whenever you're out there." Jack paused for a minute. "Have I died in front of you over there?"
Ianto nodded, "More times than I'd like to count."
"Good, you know what happens then," Jack replied with a nod. "I'll be pretty disoriented for a bit, but I'll come 'round after a few minutes."
Ianto nodded, "I know." He replied softly. "I just pull you out of the way and make sure you have your coat” He added with a slight smile.
"My coat?" Jack asked, confused.
Ianto blinked at him, "Long blue woolen coat, circa world war two?"
Jack shook his head. "I was in World War Two, but I never had a coat like that."
"Oh...I always loved that coat...It always smelled of him." He whispered before frowning as he sat down on the tourist table. "How can I be so upset and still miss him this much?"
"Because you love him," Jack said simply, sitting down in a chair nearby.
Ianto frowned softly. "But he..." Ianto trailed off frowning. "I was so hurt and so angry."
"But you've had time to think about it now," Jack reminded him. "Could you really live your life without him because of this?"
Ianto frowned softly before shaking his head. "I don't think I can." He whispered softly before sighing. "I hate falling in love...it's always so painful."