Tales Of A Time Agency - 3/?
Title: Tales of A Time Agency - 3/?
Rating: 15 to NC-17 to be safe.
Characters: Jack, Ianto, John Hart, Toshiko, Owen, Gwen, Martha, The Doctor
Pairings: Predominantly Jack/Ianto (eventually), but it’s the Time Agency so expect Jack/John, Tosh/Owen, John/the consenting population of the universe……
Chapter: Chapter Number Three.
Spoilers: Anything Torchwood could be hinted at. Could also include a dash of Doctor Who too.
Summary: Ianto Jones is thrown into the world of excess of the Time Agency Academy, but will he sink or swim? Especially when the enigmatic Jack Harkness starts looking his way….
Disclaimer: Regrettably I own nothing, none of the characters, zip. Wish I did though.
Author’s Notes: I’m so sorry that this is so late, but I’ve had no time to write recently. But regardless, here it is, chapter 3, which I really hope you guys like, as you know I never like anything I write. Big thanks like always to my beta 2nd_toshiko , for never complaining when I overload her with fic, and to everyone stick with this series. And yes, as always, all your comments are loved, and cuddled, as they keep these hands a typing.
Dedicated as always to the amazing 2nd_toshiko , naddypants , skullgirl013 and morgia . You are all so supportive of me! Then again, so are all you other lovely people who keep on reading this! Thank you!
Chapter One
Chapter Two
It was time to forget.
Jack shook his head, hands holding him steady against the sink as he eyed his reflection in the mirror. He met his own gaze, the familiar blue staring back at him groggily. Rubbing at his eyes, Jack could feel the familiar ache drum beneath his skin. He had to stop doing this… Then again sex, copious amounts of alcohol and mood elevators had always been an amazing concoction at the time, but in the morning, they never felt like such a good idea after all…..
Shoving his hand under the tap, Jack reached upwards quickly, splashing the cool water across his sore features, jumping with a start as small drops of it jumped out and hit the exposed skin of his chest. It was soothing though, refreshing his eyes whilst pulling him out of his stupor. Temporarily the pain behind his face was washed away by the water, draining down far away into the sink. It felt good, so good that Jack repeated the process, this time cupping the water in his hands and pouring it on the top of his head, feeling it flow across his scalp before drizzling a smooth path down his neck and shoulders. He shuddered under the cold, enjoying the numbing feeling within his muscles. Patting at his face with a towel, he winced as the material hit a tender part of his bottom lip. He grunted, leaning forwards to examine it more closely, thoughts of the night before rushing back to him in torrents.
Ianto fucking Jones. The bastard had managed to mark him. He wasn’t as innocent as he looked, that much was obvious. As they’d been there, all meshed together, limbs no longer clearly identifiable outside the club the younger man had been taunting him, biting down on his lip as Jack’s cold hands had slid up the inside of his shirt….....The mere thought of it was making Jack feel out of control again, causing him to reach out and hit the side of the sink hard with his palm. He barely felt the brittle pain stab up through his forearm as his thoughts momentarily took over. He was obsessing, he knew that, but what he didn’t understand was why? Why did it matter? It was ridiculous, he was still young, good looking, yet he could not forget one almost fuck………… Jack shook his head, eyeing himself in the mirror for a second time. No, now was a time to forget, to move on and think no more about the beautiful tease from the night before……..
“Jack?!” There was a loud bang at the door, almost throwing it from its hinges. “You spend longer in there than anyone I know. Get out!”
John was there, stood outside as Jack opened the door, a smug smile spread across his face. One hand grasped at the towel wrapped neatly around his waist, his hair still damp from his own shower. He raised a quizzical eyebrow, looking at Jack properly for this first time that morning.
“You look rough.” He said, nodding towards the small silver flask he was holding out to Jack. “I thought it might help.”
“Thanks.” Taking it from him, Jack sighed quickly, throwing his head back and gulping down the contents of the small flask as fast as he could, feeling the congealed liquid catch in his throat. He grimaced, tossing the bottle quickly to one side. “That really is disgusting.”
“But it helps.”
“Not always.”
“Worth a shot right?” John winked, reaching upwards with his free hand and tilting Jack’s head so that he could take a closer look at his mouth. “That’s quite a mark. Pretty boy get vicious last night?”
“He got carried away.”
“Don’t we all Jack?” The other cadet laughed, letting his hand work its way down to trace the blossoming bruise that was deepening in colour at the base of Jack’s neck. “At least I know how to mark you properly……”
“You’ve had more practice.”
“That’s what we’re calling this now eh?” He chuckled, turning his back on Jack and casually throwing himself onto his bed. “You know, I was having a perfectly good night last night before you decided to show up.”
“And I just made it better……”
“You tried…..”
“Oh very funny.” Jack paused, sitting beside him on the bed. “Did you really have someone with you?”
“Some people. Plural.” John laughed, leaning back, his hands behind his head. “Two girls, freshies to be exact.” He gave the other man a smug wink. “See unlike some people, my charm translates.”
“So does mine.”
“It didn’t last night though did it?” He chuckled, giving a cheeky glance to the other man who was pouting heavily at his side. “Aw don’t give me that look. Better luck next time eh?”
“Yeah……” Jack nodded, lying down beside him. “You’re right.”
“Always am.”
“I wouldn’t go that far……”
“You wouldn’t?” John gave him a questioning look, propping himself up on one elbow so he could look him in the eye. “I’m obviously right for you.”
“What?”
“You always come back to me. I must be doing something right.”
“No, you’re just easy. Guaranteed fuck every time.”
“Maybe…..” The other cadet laughed, lying back thoughtfully. “But at least it’s something.”
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Blue skies swirled above the towering white Academy, the shine of the suns reflecting a yellow light upon the stone. It was Midday, the twin suns of Adronax Minor high in the sky as a scattering of clouds littered the soft blanket of cyan. In the morning light, everything was so bright, so alive and welcoming, yet at the same time so daunting and imposing. A city that seemed so much more comfortable in the dark had been thrown into the harsh reality of daylight, the insomnia, excess and chaos of the night long since passed.
A gun was forced into his hand, words hitting his ear drums as he felt his brain split with the noise. Ianto looked to the stern face beside him, Sergeant Jaxx, a man who seemed to prefer not to have a first name. He was much taller than he, by a good five or so inches, although by the way he was stooping down to eye level you could have sworn that both men were the same height. Humanoid in appearance also, his shoulders were broad walls of muscle, curvatures of his body pushing through the tight material of his green uniform. His jaw square and eyes narrow, everything about him seemed to be battle hardened and angry, from the stubble that lined his jaw to the way his thick black hair was striped with flecks of grey.
“You listening to me boy?!” The voice screamed, nudging him hard between the shoulders. “Two rounds, middle target. Now!”
Ianto nodded, ignoring the splitting pain in his head as he raised both his arms, fists clasped tight around the metal of the gun. His brain was a blur as he felt the eyes of the other twenty cadets upon him, biceps and triceps shaking as he tried to hold the gun level. He squinted, eyeing the target firmly, on his face a look of grim determination. Exhaling, he squeezed at the trigger, feeling the gun leap into action as it fired. There was a brief silence as Ianto almost dared not look at the target, terrified to know that he might have missed, to hear the same harsh yell of his drill sergeant that had been unleashed on the cadets who had shot before him. He heard nothing…
“Passable.” Jaxx said quickly, grunting in approval. “The position of your right shoulder needs to be addressed, and your stance…..legs too close together.” He took the gun from him quickly. “Speed. If you shoot that slow in the field you’ll be dead in seconds.”
Seemingly satisfied, the drill sergeant moved on to the next cadet stood beside him, the same reel of orders leaving his mouth in almost inaudible flurry. Sighing in relief, Ianto felt his shoulders relax as he glanced back to the target. It seemed he was a better shot that he’d given himself credit for……
“You’re good.” The woman stood in rank next to him smiled softly, maintaining her rigid stance whilst throwing him a cautionary glance. She looked back at the targets in front of them. “Really good.”
“Errr thanks?”
“You’ve shot before right?”
“Not exactly.”
“Wow….” She breathed; watching as the cadet to their left missed his target completely. “Well, if you ask me….looks like you’re headed straight for the top of the class.”
“And who exactly are you?” Ianto asked, risking her a small smile.
“Martha Jones….” She flashed him a pretty grin. “Do I get the same pleasure?”
“Ianto… Ianto Jones.”
“Common name eh?” She chuckled softly. “Or at least I’m told that it used to be. Not so much now.”
“Old earth names are common where I grew up.”
“Where was that?”
“Salax 9, Jeketter.”
“Gods!” She hissed loudly, covering her mouth quickly. “I grew up about 20 klicks from Jeketter!” She giggled to herself, nudging him gently in the ribs. “You know I thought I was the only one.”
“So did I.”
“Wow…..I can’t tell you how relieved I am! It’s not like home is it?”
“Did you want it to be?”
“No…..well, maybe. We lived on a salt farm, so things were pretty quiet.”
“Not like here at all then.”
“No. It’s funny, I used to wish for excitement back home. Now I have it, I want that peace back.”
“I know exactly what you mean.”
“ I’m glad it’s not just me.” She nodded, before giving him a curious look. “Jeketter though? Tough place to live right?”
“It wasn’t the easiest place to grow up, no.”
“But…….” She paused, the deep brown pools of her eyes resting on him. “You…….You weren’t there in 5054 were you?”
“Yes.”
“Oh God……. Ianto……I’m so, so sorry.”
“Don’t be. It wasn’t your fault.”
“ I know, but-”
Loud chattering and yelling burst out into the forecourt of the shooting range, as a group of people appeared from the armoury, cutting Martha off mid sentence. They were the complete opposite of the cadets lined up for training, unorganised, confident, grinning and laughing, their arms filled with a vast array of weaponry. Senior cadets, you could tell even if they hadn’t been wearing their bright crimson uniforms, simply by their mannerisms, they were stood and heckled at each other, unaware of the presence of anyone else around them. Ianto shook his head, disliking them already, vowing to himself that he would never become like them. Arrogance, it was something that he despised, something that seemed so pointless to him. It had been arrogance that had caused everything….He sighed, trying to tear his eyes from the group. Succeeding until one figure stood out, bringing his eyes back to the group, eyeing the person at the centre of everyone’s attention, spinning a gun round cockily in his hand.
Jack. Ianto gulped hard, unable to stop watching him. He was the last man on earth he wanted to see, stood there, all teeth and muscle, loving every inch of attention that was showered upon him. He regretted trusting him, of course he did, regretted falling victim to all that charm. How many people had fallen for it all like he had? How many people hadn’t realised until it was over and he had moved onto the next target of his “affections”? Just how many people had the senior cadet kissed like he had had kissed Ianto that night?
Ianto shook the thoughts from his head. He was stronger than this, and now he’d learnt his lesson. Besides, none of it mattered, the reality being that Ianto had avoided all that and had managed to not become just another notch on Jack’s bed post. That was what counted. Although it seemed John Hart didn’t seem to mind it, or at least, the man who Ianto presumed was John, by the way he and Jack were talking, joking, some form of body contact between them at all times. Ianto swallowed hard, momentarily wishing that he could be that free, that careless that he could simply live in the present and fuck the consequences. He sighed, logic returning to him as he ripped his eyes from them. He’d never be like them.
“Alright!” Sergeant Jaxx seemed unimpressed by the sudden rabble of people, ignoring them completely as he turned to face the younger cadets. “Weapons training for today is now complete. Let me tell you something cadets……..the lot of you better get training harder, because from what I’ve seen today, you all need it. If you can’t shoot straight, there’s no place for you here. Clear?” He paused, staring at them all in turn, daring any of them to speak up against him. “Good. Dismissed!”
The cadets all saluted quickly, before grabbing their kit bags and beginning to file from the court. With Martha in tow, Ianto made him way across the grass towards the armoury and exit, hating the way that Jack seemed to be in his way on purpose. He gave a quick glance to the other man, who seemed equally taken aback to see him, his face showing shades of disbelief like colour. Ianto shook his head, walking faster past him, trying with all his might to block him out.
“Jones…….” A familiar voice called out from behind him, sending a shiver down his spine, hairs standing on end. But Ianto ignored it, kept on moving, Martha practically running to match the pace of his long legs. Still running. He didn’t care what Jack was going to say after that, didn’t want to hear any of it. There was nothing more he wanted to hear from him.
“Did you know him?” Martha asked quickly as Ianto stooped down to pick up the rest of his kit from the armoury floor. “That senior?” She gave him a confused look, reaching out gently squeeze his shoulder.
“Yes.”
“Then why did you ignore him?”
“Because right now I’d prefer it if I didn’t.”
“Why?”
“Because he wasn’t who I thought he was.” Ianto sighed; giving Martha what he hoped was a comforting smile. “It doesn’t matter.”
“You sure?” A gentle hand was resting on his shoulder.
“Positive. Fancy some lunch?”
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He ignored me. Jack let off another flurry of bullets, watching satisfied as each one hit the bulls-eye of each target. He clicked a catch on the gun, recharging it, before sending out another wave of bullets, clutching the gun so tightly in his hands that his knuckles turned white and his fingertips went numb. Why the fuck does it matter? Why do I even care? He’s nothing to me……
“Jack…….” A hand rested on the small of his back, the voice softer than what he was used to. He turned round, the anger from his face draining as his eyes met with the deep purple eyes of Telmaya Xantir.
“What?”
“You ok?”
“Course I am.”
“You sure?” She raised a quizzical eyebrow, removing her hand from his back. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this focused.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not.” She sighed, rolling her eyes. “I know you’re not.”
“And what makes you think you know me best?”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Jack…..-”
“I’m fine Tel. Never been better.”
“You’re not listening to me Jack….”
“You’re the one who’s not listening to me.”
“What’s happened to you Jack?” She spat, stepping away. “You’re acting like a complete bastard.”
“Nothing new there then right?”
“You’re impossible.” She shook her head, backing away further. “I’ll come talk to you when you’ve finished acting so fucking self absorbed.”
“Tel………”
Jack sighed, watching her walk away. What was wrong with him? Why did he feel so angry with everyone? With himself? What had happened to him? Kicking the ground in disgust, Jack turned round again, recharging the gun, before cocking it and letting off another round of ammunition. At the very least, he could imagine that the target he was aiming at was Ianto Jones…..
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“You slept with him didn’t you?” Toshiko said frankly, peering over the top of her mug of Akwava as they sat in the library. She lifted her eyebrows slightly, questioning, waiting patiently for a response. She’d listened to Ianto’s story of the night before quietly until then, the point where he’d gotten to describe their conversation outside the club.
“No.” Ianto sighed, taking a sip of his own drink, the sweet, creamy blue liquid soothing his throat. “I didn’t.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I……I nearly did.” He paused, blushing, looking around them, staring at the tall, almost two storey window that dominated the wall next to them, throwing stripes of light out across the library floor. “But then I realised.”
“Realised what?”
“I don’t know…..that you were right. It wasn’t what I wanted; well…..it was….just not like that.”
“Ianto……” She stopped, taking a large gulp from her drink before continuing. “That is all it’s ever going to be like with Jack. He doesn’t do anything more.”
“I know that Tosh.”
“Good. You worried me last night.”
“I did?”
“Yeah. I could see you heading straight for heartache and there was nothing I could do to stop you.”
“You gave it you’re best effort.” Ianto laughed, flashing her a cheeky grin. “I don’t think you could call it heartache though, I barely know him.”
“Things are so new for you here; your emotions get amplified because of it. Besides, TARA is so intense, it’s amazing how quickly you start feeling things………Believe me.”
“Tosh?” Ianto leaned in closer, sensing there was something more behind her words. “Is there something you’re not telling me here?”
“No…..not yet.” She smiled, blushing herself this time.
“Tosh….come on. You’ve had my news.”
“Ianto….I……” Her eyes met with his determined glance. “Fine. There’s just this guy I know, alright? In fact, I’ve known him for a while……it’s stupid really. I mean, nothing happening so to speak…”
“Who is he?”
“A medical officer…..well he’s a training officer technically…. Owen, his name’s Owen.”
“A training officer? He’s your tutor?!” Ianto breathed, trying to keep his voice low.
“Not anymore…… He was in my first year when I still did medical training.”
“And you have feelings for him?”
“Yes…..but so do half of his students. It’s not like he’s noticed me or anything……”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“The problem? Well…..I……….He was at Poseidon last night.”
“He was?”
“Yeah….I left you to go talk to him.”
“Ahhhhhh.” Ianto smiled. “I wondered where you’d gone.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have left you.”
“It’s fine Tosh. I can look after myself.”
“I know.” She paused sheepishly, sweeping her hair out from in front of her eyes. “I need a favour Ianto.”
“What’s that?”
“Tonight, I said I’d……well I kind of told Owen I’d meet him again. At Poseidon. I need you to come with me, in case he’s not there.”
“And what if he is?”
“Then you can do what you like.” She gave him a pleading look. “Please Ianto, I know it’s against Academy rules, but I just want to be able to talk to him again. There’s something about him…...”
Ianto looked at her, saw the desperation in her eyes and was immediately melted by it. She was right, it was against the Academy rules, and in fact it was written in the TARA’s constitution that cadets were under no circumstances allowed to have any form of private relations with their tutors or higher ranking officers. For that reason, Ianto almost felt that he should be stopping Toshiko, telling her that she was being ridiculous and risking far too much if she was ever found out. But then again, who was he to tell her what to do? And since when did real life ever take rules and regulations into account anyway? It was one night, and in fairness, Toshiko had already done the same for him.
“Alright Tosh.” He nodded softly. “But you better know what you’re doing.”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
“Oh Ianto.” She grinned, leaning forward to press and grateful kiss to his cheek. “Thank you. Really.”
“It’s fine. You’ve done enough for me.”
“Don’t mention it.” She smiled, draining the rest of her mug in seconds. “Really, don’t. It’s nice to have someone to talk to.”
“You’re right.” Ianto sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Somehow, it was the one thing I never expected to find here.”
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Jack Harkness was bored.
There was nothing he hated more.
Leaning back against the bar, he downed yet another shot of hyper vodka, feeling it sting the flesh at the back of his throat with renewed fire and intensity. The music around him was deafening, decibels clanging across his eardrums and then ricocheting onwards through his brain. An impenetrable barrier, separating him from everything else, suspending him inside his own bubble. The alcohol wasn’t helping anything either; in fact mostly it was making things worse. It had increased his isolation, and by no means was it making anyone else at the club anymore attractive to him. John had left him too, as was their custom, and had gone and found himself two pretty freshies to dance with before disappearing off into the crowd. Jack was well and truly alone, and for the first time, he hadn’t seen anyone who made him want to change that.
Glancing over to the bartender, he ordered another stretch of shots, watching as the five small tumblers were filled in turn with more hyper vodka, the liquid sparkling like diamonds from the strobe lighting of the club. Throwing two of them back one after the other, Jack grunted as he felt the alcohol hit his brain, throwing his vision off centre momentarily. When it refocused, Jack found his eyes resting on the one face he really could have done without seeing that night.
He was with that techie, Toshiko again, stood in the corner of the room, drinks clasped in their hands as they laughed and smiled. He looked good too, totally unaware of his presence at the club, unlike how he had ever seen him. Relaxed, at home, looking like for the first time as if he belonged there. Jack suddenly felt overcome by a wave of jealousy, wishing that for once he had that sort of companionship……He shook his head, hating the feeling as it drifted on through him. Grunting louder this time, he drank the remaining three shots, slamming down some credits onto the bar before leaving as quickly as he could, thankful that Ianto hadn’t seen him.
The cool air outside eased his senses, as Jack found the sweat on his brow becoming icy in seconds. He shivered, moving back into the alleyway that he had been stood in only the night before. It was darker this time though, colder, as he leant back against the stone and lit his cigarette, warmth from the spark inside temporarily radiating out into his fingers. He took a heavy, deep drag from the tube, feeling the smoke reach every corner of his mouth, gliding across his tongue and teeth. A small smile passed across his lips; at least there was one thing he could still enjoy.
“Can I borrow some credits?” A voice came from behind him, gruff and distant, an unfamiliar hand on his shoulder. Jack turned round sharply, craning his neck to look at the figure’s face, but in the gloom it was indistinguishable.
“No.” Jack said bluntly, trying to step forwards. The grip of the hand on his shoulder tightened, holding him still.
“Come on…..just one credit.”
“Don’t you understand the word ‘no’?”
“Not when it stops me getting what I want.” The voice replied smugly.
“I’d have gotten used to it by now if I were you.”
“Think you’re clever eh?” The grip on his shoulder tightened further, fingers digging deep into Jack’s shoulder blade. “Quit playing pretty boy. Credits……now.”
“I’d get off me if I were you.”
“And what if I don’t?”
“Let’s not get to that ok?”
The figure didn’t reply, and with strength that Jack was by no means ready for, it slammed the cadet’s body hard into the wall, his head hitting against the stone, sending stars out in front of his vision. He took his chance to fight back, reaching up towards his attackers face, but he was winded, and easily stopped by the other man’s broad arm as it knocked his hands out of the way, before landing a heavy blow to his stomach. Jack was helpless, coughing and spluttering as he felt every little bit of air leave his lungs, his body totally at the mercy of the man now pinning him against the cold wall, the music from inside pelting through it like some over active heart beat.
“Now……” the voice said, a sick smile spreading across his features as he held a gun to Jack’s forehead. “How about those credits?”
So here we are, and yes, I’m nervous……What do you guys all think? This chapter….well I’m not used to writing separate Janto haha, plus, I am aware that for its length not much happens. Or am I being overly critical again? I have no idea, but please, if you can just leave me a comment, because you do keep me motivated with this, even when college gets in the way!! Thank you!
Just Being Me a.k.a Sisi
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Click here for chapter four!!!
Rating: 15 to NC-17 to be safe.
Characters: Jack, Ianto, John Hart, Toshiko, Owen, Gwen, Martha, The Doctor
Pairings: Predominantly Jack/Ianto (eventually), but it’s the Time Agency so expect Jack/John, Tosh/Owen, John/the consenting population of the universe……
Chapter: Chapter Number Three.
Spoilers: Anything Torchwood could be hinted at. Could also include a dash of Doctor Who too.
Summary: Ianto Jones is thrown into the world of excess of the Time Agency Academy, but will he sink or swim? Especially when the enigmatic Jack Harkness starts looking his way….
Disclaimer: Regrettably I own nothing, none of the characters, zip. Wish I did though.
Author’s Notes: I’m so sorry that this is so late, but I’ve had no time to write recently. But regardless, here it is, chapter 3, which I really hope you guys like, as you know I never like anything I write. Big thanks like always to my beta 2nd_toshiko , for never complaining when I overload her with fic, and to everyone stick with this series. And yes, as always, all your comments are loved, and cuddled, as they keep these hands a typing.
Dedicated as always to the amazing 2nd_toshiko , naddypants , skullgirl013 and morgia . You are all so supportive of me! Then again, so are all you other lovely people who keep on reading this! Thank you!
Chapter One
Chapter Two
It was time to forget.
Jack shook his head, hands holding him steady against the sink as he eyed his reflection in the mirror. He met his own gaze, the familiar blue staring back at him groggily. Rubbing at his eyes, Jack could feel the familiar ache drum beneath his skin. He had to stop doing this… Then again sex, copious amounts of alcohol and mood elevators had always been an amazing concoction at the time, but in the morning, they never felt like such a good idea after all…..
Shoving his hand under the tap, Jack reached upwards quickly, splashing the cool water across his sore features, jumping with a start as small drops of it jumped out and hit the exposed skin of his chest. It was soothing though, refreshing his eyes whilst pulling him out of his stupor. Temporarily the pain behind his face was washed away by the water, draining down far away into the sink. It felt good, so good that Jack repeated the process, this time cupping the water in his hands and pouring it on the top of his head, feeling it flow across his scalp before drizzling a smooth path down his neck and shoulders. He shuddered under the cold, enjoying the numbing feeling within his muscles. Patting at his face with a towel, he winced as the material hit a tender part of his bottom lip. He grunted, leaning forwards to examine it more closely, thoughts of the night before rushing back to him in torrents.
Ianto fucking Jones. The bastard had managed to mark him. He wasn’t as innocent as he looked, that much was obvious. As they’d been there, all meshed together, limbs no longer clearly identifiable outside the club the younger man had been taunting him, biting down on his lip as Jack’s cold hands had slid up the inside of his shirt….....The mere thought of it was making Jack feel out of control again, causing him to reach out and hit the side of the sink hard with his palm. He barely felt the brittle pain stab up through his forearm as his thoughts momentarily took over. He was obsessing, he knew that, but what he didn’t understand was why? Why did it matter? It was ridiculous, he was still young, good looking, yet he could not forget one almost fuck………… Jack shook his head, eyeing himself in the mirror for a second time. No, now was a time to forget, to move on and think no more about the beautiful tease from the night before……..
“Jack?!” There was a loud bang at the door, almost throwing it from its hinges. “You spend longer in there than anyone I know. Get out!”
John was there, stood outside as Jack opened the door, a smug smile spread across his face. One hand grasped at the towel wrapped neatly around his waist, his hair still damp from his own shower. He raised a quizzical eyebrow, looking at Jack properly for this first time that morning.
“You look rough.” He said, nodding towards the small silver flask he was holding out to Jack. “I thought it might help.”
“Thanks.” Taking it from him, Jack sighed quickly, throwing his head back and gulping down the contents of the small flask as fast as he could, feeling the congealed liquid catch in his throat. He grimaced, tossing the bottle quickly to one side. “That really is disgusting.”
“But it helps.”
“Not always.”
“Worth a shot right?” John winked, reaching upwards with his free hand and tilting Jack’s head so that he could take a closer look at his mouth. “That’s quite a mark. Pretty boy get vicious last night?”
“He got carried away.”
“Don’t we all Jack?” The other cadet laughed, letting his hand work its way down to trace the blossoming bruise that was deepening in colour at the base of Jack’s neck. “At least I know how to mark you properly……”
“You’ve had more practice.”
“That’s what we’re calling this now eh?” He chuckled, turning his back on Jack and casually throwing himself onto his bed. “You know, I was having a perfectly good night last night before you decided to show up.”
“And I just made it better……”
“You tried…..”
“Oh very funny.” Jack paused, sitting beside him on the bed. “Did you really have someone with you?”
“Some people. Plural.” John laughed, leaning back, his hands behind his head. “Two girls, freshies to be exact.” He gave the other man a smug wink. “See unlike some people, my charm translates.”
“So does mine.”
“It didn’t last night though did it?” He chuckled, giving a cheeky glance to the other man who was pouting heavily at his side. “Aw don’t give me that look. Better luck next time eh?”
“Yeah……” Jack nodded, lying down beside him. “You’re right.”
“Always am.”
“I wouldn’t go that far……”
“You wouldn’t?” John gave him a questioning look, propping himself up on one elbow so he could look him in the eye. “I’m obviously right for you.”
“What?”
“You always come back to me. I must be doing something right.”
“No, you’re just easy. Guaranteed fuck every time.”
“Maybe…..” The other cadet laughed, lying back thoughtfully. “But at least it’s something.”
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Blue skies swirled above the towering white Academy, the shine of the suns reflecting a yellow light upon the stone. It was Midday, the twin suns of Adronax Minor high in the sky as a scattering of clouds littered the soft blanket of cyan. In the morning light, everything was so bright, so alive and welcoming, yet at the same time so daunting and imposing. A city that seemed so much more comfortable in the dark had been thrown into the harsh reality of daylight, the insomnia, excess and chaos of the night long since passed.
A gun was forced into his hand, words hitting his ear drums as he felt his brain split with the noise. Ianto looked to the stern face beside him, Sergeant Jaxx, a man who seemed to prefer not to have a first name. He was much taller than he, by a good five or so inches, although by the way he was stooping down to eye level you could have sworn that both men were the same height. Humanoid in appearance also, his shoulders were broad walls of muscle, curvatures of his body pushing through the tight material of his green uniform. His jaw square and eyes narrow, everything about him seemed to be battle hardened and angry, from the stubble that lined his jaw to the way his thick black hair was striped with flecks of grey.
“You listening to me boy?!” The voice screamed, nudging him hard between the shoulders. “Two rounds, middle target. Now!”
Ianto nodded, ignoring the splitting pain in his head as he raised both his arms, fists clasped tight around the metal of the gun. His brain was a blur as he felt the eyes of the other twenty cadets upon him, biceps and triceps shaking as he tried to hold the gun level. He squinted, eyeing the target firmly, on his face a look of grim determination. Exhaling, he squeezed at the trigger, feeling the gun leap into action as it fired. There was a brief silence as Ianto almost dared not look at the target, terrified to know that he might have missed, to hear the same harsh yell of his drill sergeant that had been unleashed on the cadets who had shot before him. He heard nothing…
“Passable.” Jaxx said quickly, grunting in approval. “The position of your right shoulder needs to be addressed, and your stance…..legs too close together.” He took the gun from him quickly. “Speed. If you shoot that slow in the field you’ll be dead in seconds.”
Seemingly satisfied, the drill sergeant moved on to the next cadet stood beside him, the same reel of orders leaving his mouth in almost inaudible flurry. Sighing in relief, Ianto felt his shoulders relax as he glanced back to the target. It seemed he was a better shot that he’d given himself credit for……
“You’re good.” The woman stood in rank next to him smiled softly, maintaining her rigid stance whilst throwing him a cautionary glance. She looked back at the targets in front of them. “Really good.”
“Errr thanks?”
“You’ve shot before right?”
“Not exactly.”
“Wow….” She breathed; watching as the cadet to their left missed his target completely. “Well, if you ask me….looks like you’re headed straight for the top of the class.”
“And who exactly are you?” Ianto asked, risking her a small smile.
“Martha Jones….” She flashed him a pretty grin. “Do I get the same pleasure?”
“Ianto… Ianto Jones.”
“Common name eh?” She chuckled softly. “Or at least I’m told that it used to be. Not so much now.”
“Old earth names are common where I grew up.”
“Where was that?”
“Salax 9, Jeketter.”
“Gods!” She hissed loudly, covering her mouth quickly. “I grew up about 20 klicks from Jeketter!” She giggled to herself, nudging him gently in the ribs. “You know I thought I was the only one.”
“So did I.”
“Wow…..I can’t tell you how relieved I am! It’s not like home is it?”
“Did you want it to be?”
“No…..well, maybe. We lived on a salt farm, so things were pretty quiet.”
“Not like here at all then.”
“No. It’s funny, I used to wish for excitement back home. Now I have it, I want that peace back.”
“I know exactly what you mean.”
“ I’m glad it’s not just me.” She nodded, before giving him a curious look. “Jeketter though? Tough place to live right?”
“It wasn’t the easiest place to grow up, no.”
“But…….” She paused, the deep brown pools of her eyes resting on him. “You…….You weren’t there in 5054 were you?”
“Yes.”
“Oh God……. Ianto……I’m so, so sorry.”
“Don’t be. It wasn’t your fault.”
“ I know, but-”
Loud chattering and yelling burst out into the forecourt of the shooting range, as a group of people appeared from the armoury, cutting Martha off mid sentence. They were the complete opposite of the cadets lined up for training, unorganised, confident, grinning and laughing, their arms filled with a vast array of weaponry. Senior cadets, you could tell even if they hadn’t been wearing their bright crimson uniforms, simply by their mannerisms, they were stood and heckled at each other, unaware of the presence of anyone else around them. Ianto shook his head, disliking them already, vowing to himself that he would never become like them. Arrogance, it was something that he despised, something that seemed so pointless to him. It had been arrogance that had caused everything….He sighed, trying to tear his eyes from the group. Succeeding until one figure stood out, bringing his eyes back to the group, eyeing the person at the centre of everyone’s attention, spinning a gun round cockily in his hand.
Jack. Ianto gulped hard, unable to stop watching him. He was the last man on earth he wanted to see, stood there, all teeth and muscle, loving every inch of attention that was showered upon him. He regretted trusting him, of course he did, regretted falling victim to all that charm. How many people had fallen for it all like he had? How many people hadn’t realised until it was over and he had moved onto the next target of his “affections”? Just how many people had the senior cadet kissed like he had had kissed Ianto that night?
Ianto shook the thoughts from his head. He was stronger than this, and now he’d learnt his lesson. Besides, none of it mattered, the reality being that Ianto had avoided all that and had managed to not become just another notch on Jack’s bed post. That was what counted. Although it seemed John Hart didn’t seem to mind it, or at least, the man who Ianto presumed was John, by the way he and Jack were talking, joking, some form of body contact between them at all times. Ianto swallowed hard, momentarily wishing that he could be that free, that careless that he could simply live in the present and fuck the consequences. He sighed, logic returning to him as he ripped his eyes from them. He’d never be like them.
“Alright!” Sergeant Jaxx seemed unimpressed by the sudden rabble of people, ignoring them completely as he turned to face the younger cadets. “Weapons training for today is now complete. Let me tell you something cadets……..the lot of you better get training harder, because from what I’ve seen today, you all need it. If you can’t shoot straight, there’s no place for you here. Clear?” He paused, staring at them all in turn, daring any of them to speak up against him. “Good. Dismissed!”
The cadets all saluted quickly, before grabbing their kit bags and beginning to file from the court. With Martha in tow, Ianto made him way across the grass towards the armoury and exit, hating the way that Jack seemed to be in his way on purpose. He gave a quick glance to the other man, who seemed equally taken aback to see him, his face showing shades of disbelief like colour. Ianto shook his head, walking faster past him, trying with all his might to block him out.
“Jones…….” A familiar voice called out from behind him, sending a shiver down his spine, hairs standing on end. But Ianto ignored it, kept on moving, Martha practically running to match the pace of his long legs. Still running. He didn’t care what Jack was going to say after that, didn’t want to hear any of it. There was nothing more he wanted to hear from him.
“Did you know him?” Martha asked quickly as Ianto stooped down to pick up the rest of his kit from the armoury floor. “That senior?” She gave him a confused look, reaching out gently squeeze his shoulder.
“Yes.”
“Then why did you ignore him?”
“Because right now I’d prefer it if I didn’t.”
“Why?”
“Because he wasn’t who I thought he was.” Ianto sighed; giving Martha what he hoped was a comforting smile. “It doesn’t matter.”
“You sure?” A gentle hand was resting on his shoulder.
“Positive. Fancy some lunch?”
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He ignored me. Jack let off another flurry of bullets, watching satisfied as each one hit the bulls-eye of each target. He clicked a catch on the gun, recharging it, before sending out another wave of bullets, clutching the gun so tightly in his hands that his knuckles turned white and his fingertips went numb. Why the fuck does it matter? Why do I even care? He’s nothing to me……
“Jack…….” A hand rested on the small of his back, the voice softer than what he was used to. He turned round, the anger from his face draining as his eyes met with the deep purple eyes of Telmaya Xantir.
“What?”
“You ok?”
“Course I am.”
“You sure?” She raised a quizzical eyebrow, removing her hand from his back. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this focused.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not.” She sighed, rolling her eyes. “I know you’re not.”
“And what makes you think you know me best?”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Jack…..-”
“I’m fine Tel. Never been better.”
“You’re not listening to me Jack….”
“You’re the one who’s not listening to me.”
“What’s happened to you Jack?” She spat, stepping away. “You’re acting like a complete bastard.”
“Nothing new there then right?”
“You’re impossible.” She shook her head, backing away further. “I’ll come talk to you when you’ve finished acting so fucking self absorbed.”
“Tel………”
Jack sighed, watching her walk away. What was wrong with him? Why did he feel so angry with everyone? With himself? What had happened to him? Kicking the ground in disgust, Jack turned round again, recharging the gun, before cocking it and letting off another round of ammunition. At the very least, he could imagine that the target he was aiming at was Ianto Jones…..
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“You slept with him didn’t you?” Toshiko said frankly, peering over the top of her mug of Akwava as they sat in the library. She lifted her eyebrows slightly, questioning, waiting patiently for a response. She’d listened to Ianto’s story of the night before quietly until then, the point where he’d gotten to describe their conversation outside the club.
“No.” Ianto sighed, taking a sip of his own drink, the sweet, creamy blue liquid soothing his throat. “I didn’t.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I……I nearly did.” He paused, blushing, looking around them, staring at the tall, almost two storey window that dominated the wall next to them, throwing stripes of light out across the library floor. “But then I realised.”
“Realised what?”
“I don’t know…..that you were right. It wasn’t what I wanted; well…..it was….just not like that.”
“Ianto……” She stopped, taking a large gulp from her drink before continuing. “That is all it’s ever going to be like with Jack. He doesn’t do anything more.”
“I know that Tosh.”
“Good. You worried me last night.”
“I did?”
“Yeah. I could see you heading straight for heartache and there was nothing I could do to stop you.”
“You gave it you’re best effort.” Ianto laughed, flashing her a cheeky grin. “I don’t think you could call it heartache though, I barely know him.”
“Things are so new for you here; your emotions get amplified because of it. Besides, TARA is so intense, it’s amazing how quickly you start feeling things………Believe me.”
“Tosh?” Ianto leaned in closer, sensing there was something more behind her words. “Is there something you’re not telling me here?”
“No…..not yet.” She smiled, blushing herself this time.
“Tosh….come on. You’ve had my news.”
“Ianto….I……” Her eyes met with his determined glance. “Fine. There’s just this guy I know, alright? In fact, I’ve known him for a while……it’s stupid really. I mean, nothing happening so to speak…”
“Who is he?”
“A medical officer…..well he’s a training officer technically…. Owen, his name’s Owen.”
“A training officer? He’s your tutor?!” Ianto breathed, trying to keep his voice low.
“Not anymore…… He was in my first year when I still did medical training.”
“And you have feelings for him?”
“Yes…..but so do half of his students. It’s not like he’s noticed me or anything……”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“The problem? Well…..I……….He was at Poseidon last night.”
“He was?”
“Yeah….I left you to go talk to him.”
“Ahhhhhh.” Ianto smiled. “I wondered where you’d gone.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have left you.”
“It’s fine Tosh. I can look after myself.”
“I know.” She paused sheepishly, sweeping her hair out from in front of her eyes. “I need a favour Ianto.”
“What’s that?”
“Tonight, I said I’d……well I kind of told Owen I’d meet him again. At Poseidon. I need you to come with me, in case he’s not there.”
“And what if he is?”
“Then you can do what you like.” She gave him a pleading look. “Please Ianto, I know it’s against Academy rules, but I just want to be able to talk to him again. There’s something about him…...”
Ianto looked at her, saw the desperation in her eyes and was immediately melted by it. She was right, it was against the Academy rules, and in fact it was written in the TARA’s constitution that cadets were under no circumstances allowed to have any form of private relations with their tutors or higher ranking officers. For that reason, Ianto almost felt that he should be stopping Toshiko, telling her that she was being ridiculous and risking far too much if she was ever found out. But then again, who was he to tell her what to do? And since when did real life ever take rules and regulations into account anyway? It was one night, and in fairness, Toshiko had already done the same for him.
“Alright Tosh.” He nodded softly. “But you better know what you’re doing.”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
“Oh Ianto.” She grinned, leaning forward to press and grateful kiss to his cheek. “Thank you. Really.”
“It’s fine. You’ve done enough for me.”
“Don’t mention it.” She smiled, draining the rest of her mug in seconds. “Really, don’t. It’s nice to have someone to talk to.”
“You’re right.” Ianto sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Somehow, it was the one thing I never expected to find here.”
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Jack Harkness was bored.
There was nothing he hated more.
Leaning back against the bar, he downed yet another shot of hyper vodka, feeling it sting the flesh at the back of his throat with renewed fire and intensity. The music around him was deafening, decibels clanging across his eardrums and then ricocheting onwards through his brain. An impenetrable barrier, separating him from everything else, suspending him inside his own bubble. The alcohol wasn’t helping anything either; in fact mostly it was making things worse. It had increased his isolation, and by no means was it making anyone else at the club anymore attractive to him. John had left him too, as was their custom, and had gone and found himself two pretty freshies to dance with before disappearing off into the crowd. Jack was well and truly alone, and for the first time, he hadn’t seen anyone who made him want to change that.
Glancing over to the bartender, he ordered another stretch of shots, watching as the five small tumblers were filled in turn with more hyper vodka, the liquid sparkling like diamonds from the strobe lighting of the club. Throwing two of them back one after the other, Jack grunted as he felt the alcohol hit his brain, throwing his vision off centre momentarily. When it refocused, Jack found his eyes resting on the one face he really could have done without seeing that night.
He was with that techie, Toshiko again, stood in the corner of the room, drinks clasped in their hands as they laughed and smiled. He looked good too, totally unaware of his presence at the club, unlike how he had ever seen him. Relaxed, at home, looking like for the first time as if he belonged there. Jack suddenly felt overcome by a wave of jealousy, wishing that for once he had that sort of companionship……He shook his head, hating the feeling as it drifted on through him. Grunting louder this time, he drank the remaining three shots, slamming down some credits onto the bar before leaving as quickly as he could, thankful that Ianto hadn’t seen him.
The cool air outside eased his senses, as Jack found the sweat on his brow becoming icy in seconds. He shivered, moving back into the alleyway that he had been stood in only the night before. It was darker this time though, colder, as he leant back against the stone and lit his cigarette, warmth from the spark inside temporarily radiating out into his fingers. He took a heavy, deep drag from the tube, feeling the smoke reach every corner of his mouth, gliding across his tongue and teeth. A small smile passed across his lips; at least there was one thing he could still enjoy.
“Can I borrow some credits?” A voice came from behind him, gruff and distant, an unfamiliar hand on his shoulder. Jack turned round sharply, craning his neck to look at the figure’s face, but in the gloom it was indistinguishable.
“No.” Jack said bluntly, trying to step forwards. The grip of the hand on his shoulder tightened, holding him still.
“Come on…..just one credit.”
“Don’t you understand the word ‘no’?”
“Not when it stops me getting what I want.” The voice replied smugly.
“I’d have gotten used to it by now if I were you.”
“Think you’re clever eh?” The grip on his shoulder tightened further, fingers digging deep into Jack’s shoulder blade. “Quit playing pretty boy. Credits……now.”
“I’d get off me if I were you.”
“And what if I don’t?”
“Let’s not get to that ok?”
The figure didn’t reply, and with strength that Jack was by no means ready for, it slammed the cadet’s body hard into the wall, his head hitting against the stone, sending stars out in front of his vision. He took his chance to fight back, reaching up towards his attackers face, but he was winded, and easily stopped by the other man’s broad arm as it knocked his hands out of the way, before landing a heavy blow to his stomach. Jack was helpless, coughing and spluttering as he felt every little bit of air leave his lungs, his body totally at the mercy of the man now pinning him against the cold wall, the music from inside pelting through it like some over active heart beat.
“Now……” the voice said, a sick smile spreading across his features as he held a gun to Jack’s forehead. “How about those credits?”
So here we are, and yes, I’m nervous……What do you guys all think? This chapter….well I’m not used to writing separate Janto haha, plus, I am aware that for its length not much happens. Or am I being overly critical again? I have no idea, but please, if you can just leave me a comment, because you do keep me motivated with this, even when college gets in the way!! Thank you!
Just Being Me a.k.a Sisi
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Click here for chapter four!!!