(Untitled)

[othercaptjack]

This is going to be difficult

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[likesthecoat]

Ianto's back is perfectly straight and his face is expressionless as he walks through the Hub to Jack's office. At first glance he looks strong; on second, he looks like he will snap if someone thumps him in the right place.

He raps his knuckles on Jack's door. "Sir."

[othercaptjack]

And Jack will try, within reason, not to thump him - physically or otherwise - at least for the duration of this conversation. It hurts, now, seeing Ianto look so outwardly calm, and then to look again. It makes him wonder how much he must have missed, in the months the boy was working here. Hiding his girlfriend here, and worrying every minute. No. Security first. Putting compassion first is Gwen's job.

Jack looks up and nods, no trace of his normal easy smile visible. "Come in, Ianto," he says. "And have a seat."

[likesthecoat]

Ianto does so wordlessly, almost soundlessly. That's what he's good at, isn't it--being unnoticeable.

He crosses his legs and folds his hands over his knee.

[othercaptjack]

He is good at it. And yet... for a few days, while he more or less hounded Jack for a job... It makes you think. How good must he be, to adapt like that? To become silent and perfect so that even Jack didn't try for the depths beneath the cool exterior.

It's part of the reason Jack didn't forcibly retcon him immediately.

"I guess you know that I need to ask you about some things," he says, after a few moments of excruciating silence. "I need to have some answers before I can decide where to go from here."

It's a soberer, more distant Jack from normal that gazes at his former... what? Butler? Teaboy? He hasn't had to be like this for a very long time, and it's faintly worrying how easily the coldness overtakes him. He's not sure he likes it, but for now, for this, he needs it.