And when I am buried... [fic]
Title: And when I am buried...
Author: shadowbyrd
Rating: G
Prompt: 19. This isn't about you at all for un_love_you
Word Count: 1484
Pairing(s): Suzie/Master, hints of Jack/Suzie
Summary: AU Suzie's marrying Saxon - Jack's not happy.
A/N: Cheers to Lali for the beta.
Suzie is having the wedding dress fitted when Jack finally deigns to come to the house and see her.
“I hope you remembered to wipe your feet,” she says, as he steps into the room, her Hyacinth Bucket impression almost perfect. “I wouldn’t want my new carpets getting clogged up with alien slime.”
Jack’s eyebrows jump, looking pointedly from her to the three girls hovering around her holding bolts of fabric and pin cushions. Suzie chuckles and waves a hand.
“Oh, don’t mind them. They’re used to this sort of thing. And in any case they all know the consequences if any of them were to let something slip.” She glances out of the corner of her eye at the girl fussing over her hem, just to make sure that they are clear and is satisfied at the way the girl’s hands start to shake a little.
“Still, perhaps you’d all like to take a break,” Suzie suggests kindly. “We’ve already spent most of the morning on it.”
The hem girl nods gratefully, sliding to her feet and leaving quickly but quietly with the rest. Suzie sighs and lifts her skirts, trying to find her balance.
“Sorry about that,” she says, accepting Jack’s hand with a grateful nod, and climbs down off the footstool. “Harry always says you have to be a bit imposing to the staff or else they get ideas.”
“Speak of the devil, is Harry in?” asks Jack, peering over his shoulder as though he’s expecting Harold Saxon to jump out from behind a door, or under the rug.
“Out. Don’t worry,” she says, waving a hand. She sits down carefully, back straight and her feet together, like when she was a little girl trussed up in one of those horrible flouncy dresses her parents said she looked so nice in. It’ll sit right once it’s all stitched up. “Not that it’s not nice to see you at last, but what did you want to see me about?”
Jack shrugs. “Nothing really. Just to see how things were going.” He gestures vaguely. “The dress and everything.”
“I’d have preferred something a bit simpler,” Suzie admits, picking at the shoulder. “But Harry’s determined to spoil me - wants us to have a huge wedding.”
“Who’s coming?” Jack asks innocently.
“Friends from university,” says Suzie vaguely. There won’t be any family there, of course, from either side. “Harry’s got a lot of colleagues coming. And of course, you’re all invited, if any of you can make it.”
“I could send along the new girl,” Jack returns. “I’m sure she’d be very happy for you.”
Suzie snorts in a comfortably unladylike manner. “She’s never even met me.”
Jack shrugs one shoulder. “She’s that kind of person.”
Suzie rolls her eyes. “Your new “people person”?” she asks, before remembering that was a joke she had with Owen.
Jack answers all the same. “A little too enthusiastic in that regard, but otherwise very promising.”
“Poor girl,” Suzie murmurs, just loud enough for Jack to hear.
“She’s got a boyfriend,” he says. Like that will change anything. Suzie remembers Ianto mentioning a girlfriend when he first came to Torchwood. The suit comments came thick and fast regardless. Probably still do.
“Good for her.” Suzie smiles sweetly. “She’ll be able to bring him along.”
Jack doesn’t say anything. Suzie’s smile widens.
“Of course. The vow of silence.”
“And how much do you and Harry share?” asks Jack through his best Stepford grin.
Suzie’s on her feet in a second; she may spend her days sitting ornately around the house, but she’s still more than capable in a fight. She’s ready to show it, too, but at the last minute she reins herself back in and tilts her head back, the better to look down her nose at Jack.
“At least I’ll happy.” She spreads her arms, un-hemmed sleeves trailing. “When was the last time you saw me happy Jack, really happy?”
He doesn’t really need to think about it. Neither of them do. She’s thrown it in his face enough times. The moment is yet to come that will unseat that first week in the job, before the danger and the disillusionment really set in, back when she still felt like anything was possible.
She blames him for breaking her. Jack appears to be of the opinion that she was like that when he found her.
Suzie turns away, slower this time, and looks in the full length mirror that the girls set up earlier. She frowns and tugs the dress’s shoulders back into place. “It’s not going to be plain sailing, nothing like, especially with the election coming up so soon. Just as soon as the wedding’s out of the way, then everything will be fine.”
Jack slinks up behind her in the mirror. “Why are you marrying him really?” he asks, eyes narrowed.
“Because I love him, Jack.” She shifts her eyes to meet his over her shoulder. “And he can love me back.”
Jack looks at her for a long moment and then nods. “Well, if that ever changes, you don’t think twice about calling me, okay?” he says, his hands cupping her shoulders.
Suzie can’t help the smile. He may be incapable of being possessive, but Jack has always been fiercely protective of those few that he deems his. It’s quite gratifying to be assured of her position. “I’d have thought you’d have been happy to see the back of me.”
Jack returns the smile, albeit a little wryly. “I’d be happier if you were marrying somebody else,” he says quietly, hands sliding down her arms.
Suzie smirks, lifting an eyebrow. “Jealous?” she teases, because she can.
He tips his head to the side, as though considering this for the first time. “Concerned,” he admits.
She shifts her arms, pushing Jack’s hands loose. “I’m big girl, Jack. I can look after myself.”
His hands hang there for a moment then swing loose to his sides. “I’m sure you are.” He props his chin on top of her head and smiles wide and sad. “I won’t stop worrying.”
“Yes you will,” says Suzie. Now you’ve got a shiny new girl to play with.
Jack shrugs again and steps back. It had been months since he could be bothered to actually argue with her. For a while she worried he might have been losing interest in her.
And then came Harry. And, shortly afterwards, the ring. She’d never known Jack to shout so much.
He takes her hands, almost wringing them in his sincerity. “Listen. Whatever I’ve said in the past - I really do hope you’re happy. You deserve it.” He sighs, eyes drifting into that middle distance which seems to depress him so. “You all deserve it,” he says quietly. Coming back to himself, he beams. “I’m sure you’ll keep each other on your toes, anyway.”
Suzie smiles back, and it’s bordering on genuine. He’s really doing his best to mean well. “Thank you. I think.”
Before the moment gets too tender there’s a sharp beeping from Jack’s pocket. He checks it and sighs. “I’d better go. Something’s come up.”
“I appreciate you coming, anyway,” says Suzie. “You can show yourself out? Only…” She gestures down to her dress and Jack smiles.
“I’ll be fine. Good luck with it all.” And just like that he’s out of the door. Suzie waits until she hears the door at the far end of the corridor close before she relaxes.
She slouches on the plush sofa, pins and unstitched shoulders be damned. The pretence takes a lot out of her these days; back at work the only time she had to really work at it was when Jack wandered through asking strange questions. Nowadays it’s not just keeping the lies going, but keeping track of who she’s told what.
More recently it’s become a race against the clock; after all, it’s only going to be a matter of time before she’s caught out. Jack will eventually realise that she’s taken things from the archives, and Harry’s a frighteningly intelligent man, currently without the distraction of running the country. And of course, there’s nothing to say that he won’t have her removed the minute that he comes into power, doing away with the accomplice like so many a film villain to prevent the inevitable double-cross. She’s trying to counter that, playing up to the mental frailty that he finds so pleasing, make it clear that she’d be incapable of such a plan and praying that he buys it.
Somewhere in the house a door slams open.
“Suzie, darling, I’m home!”
Suzie’s shoulders bunch up instinctively. Taking a deep breath, she sits up straight and purses her lips before pulling them into a wide smile. She’s had to play lots of roles to get this far, but try as she might, mentally brittle yet dutiful wife isn’t something that comes naturally.
Author: shadowbyrd
Rating: G
Prompt: 19. This isn't about you at all for un_love_you
Word Count: 1484
Pairing(s): Suzie/Master, hints of Jack/Suzie
Summary: AU Suzie's marrying Saxon - Jack's not happy.
A/N: Cheers to Lali for the beta.
Suzie is having the wedding dress fitted when Jack finally deigns to come to the house and see her.
“I hope you remembered to wipe your feet,” she says, as he steps into the room, her Hyacinth Bucket impression almost perfect. “I wouldn’t want my new carpets getting clogged up with alien slime.”
Jack’s eyebrows jump, looking pointedly from her to the three girls hovering around her holding bolts of fabric and pin cushions. Suzie chuckles and waves a hand.
“Oh, don’t mind them. They’re used to this sort of thing. And in any case they all know the consequences if any of them were to let something slip.” She glances out of the corner of her eye at the girl fussing over her hem, just to make sure that they are clear and is satisfied at the way the girl’s hands start to shake a little.
“Still, perhaps you’d all like to take a break,” Suzie suggests kindly. “We’ve already spent most of the morning on it.”
The hem girl nods gratefully, sliding to her feet and leaving quickly but quietly with the rest. Suzie sighs and lifts her skirts, trying to find her balance.
“Sorry about that,” she says, accepting Jack’s hand with a grateful nod, and climbs down off the footstool. “Harry always says you have to be a bit imposing to the staff or else they get ideas.”
“Speak of the devil, is Harry in?” asks Jack, peering over his shoulder as though he’s expecting Harold Saxon to jump out from behind a door, or under the rug.
“Out. Don’t worry,” she says, waving a hand. She sits down carefully, back straight and her feet together, like when she was a little girl trussed up in one of those horrible flouncy dresses her parents said she looked so nice in. It’ll sit right once it’s all stitched up. “Not that it’s not nice to see you at last, but what did you want to see me about?”
Jack shrugs. “Nothing really. Just to see how things were going.” He gestures vaguely. “The dress and everything.”
“I’d have preferred something a bit simpler,” Suzie admits, picking at the shoulder. “But Harry’s determined to spoil me - wants us to have a huge wedding.”
“Who’s coming?” Jack asks innocently.
“Friends from university,” says Suzie vaguely. There won’t be any family there, of course, from either side. “Harry’s got a lot of colleagues coming. And of course, you’re all invited, if any of you can make it.”
“I could send along the new girl,” Jack returns. “I’m sure she’d be very happy for you.”
Suzie snorts in a comfortably unladylike manner. “She’s never even met me.”
Jack shrugs one shoulder. “She’s that kind of person.”
Suzie rolls her eyes. “Your new “people person”?” she asks, before remembering that was a joke she had with Owen.
Jack answers all the same. “A little too enthusiastic in that regard, but otherwise very promising.”
“Poor girl,” Suzie murmurs, just loud enough for Jack to hear.
“She’s got a boyfriend,” he says. Like that will change anything. Suzie remembers Ianto mentioning a girlfriend when he first came to Torchwood. The suit comments came thick and fast regardless. Probably still do.
“Good for her.” Suzie smiles sweetly. “She’ll be able to bring him along.”
Jack doesn’t say anything. Suzie’s smile widens.
“Of course. The vow of silence.”
“And how much do you and Harry share?” asks Jack through his best Stepford grin.
Suzie’s on her feet in a second; she may spend her days sitting ornately around the house, but she’s still more than capable in a fight. She’s ready to show it, too, but at the last minute she reins herself back in and tilts her head back, the better to look down her nose at Jack.
“At least I’ll happy.” She spreads her arms, un-hemmed sleeves trailing. “When was the last time you saw me happy Jack, really happy?”
He doesn’t really need to think about it. Neither of them do. She’s thrown it in his face enough times. The moment is yet to come that will unseat that first week in the job, before the danger and the disillusionment really set in, back when she still felt like anything was possible.
She blames him for breaking her. Jack appears to be of the opinion that she was like that when he found her.
Suzie turns away, slower this time, and looks in the full length mirror that the girls set up earlier. She frowns and tugs the dress’s shoulders back into place. “It’s not going to be plain sailing, nothing like, especially with the election coming up so soon. Just as soon as the wedding’s out of the way, then everything will be fine.”
Jack slinks up behind her in the mirror. “Why are you marrying him really?” he asks, eyes narrowed.
“Because I love him, Jack.” She shifts her eyes to meet his over her shoulder. “And he can love me back.”
Jack looks at her for a long moment and then nods. “Well, if that ever changes, you don’t think twice about calling me, okay?” he says, his hands cupping her shoulders.
Suzie can’t help the smile. He may be incapable of being possessive, but Jack has always been fiercely protective of those few that he deems his. It’s quite gratifying to be assured of her position. “I’d have thought you’d have been happy to see the back of me.”
Jack returns the smile, albeit a little wryly. “I’d be happier if you were marrying somebody else,” he says quietly, hands sliding down her arms.
Suzie smirks, lifting an eyebrow. “Jealous?” she teases, because she can.
He tips his head to the side, as though considering this for the first time. “Concerned,” he admits.
She shifts her arms, pushing Jack’s hands loose. “I’m big girl, Jack. I can look after myself.”
His hands hang there for a moment then swing loose to his sides. “I’m sure you are.” He props his chin on top of her head and smiles wide and sad. “I won’t stop worrying.”
“Yes you will,” says Suzie. Now you’ve got a shiny new girl to play with.
Jack shrugs again and steps back. It had been months since he could be bothered to actually argue with her. For a while she worried he might have been losing interest in her.
And then came Harry. And, shortly afterwards, the ring. She’d never known Jack to shout so much.
He takes her hands, almost wringing them in his sincerity. “Listen. Whatever I’ve said in the past - I really do hope you’re happy. You deserve it.” He sighs, eyes drifting into that middle distance which seems to depress him so. “You all deserve it,” he says quietly. Coming back to himself, he beams. “I’m sure you’ll keep each other on your toes, anyway.”
Suzie smiles back, and it’s bordering on genuine. He’s really doing his best to mean well. “Thank you. I think.”
Before the moment gets too tender there’s a sharp beeping from Jack’s pocket. He checks it and sighs. “I’d better go. Something’s come up.”
“I appreciate you coming, anyway,” says Suzie. “You can show yourself out? Only…” She gestures down to her dress and Jack smiles.
“I’ll be fine. Good luck with it all.” And just like that he’s out of the door. Suzie waits until she hears the door at the far end of the corridor close before she relaxes.
She slouches on the plush sofa, pins and unstitched shoulders be damned. The pretence takes a lot out of her these days; back at work the only time she had to really work at it was when Jack wandered through asking strange questions. Nowadays it’s not just keeping the lies going, but keeping track of who she’s told what.
More recently it’s become a race against the clock; after all, it’s only going to be a matter of time before she’s caught out. Jack will eventually realise that she’s taken things from the archives, and Harry’s a frighteningly intelligent man, currently without the distraction of running the country. And of course, there’s nothing to say that he won’t have her removed the minute that he comes into power, doing away with the accomplice like so many a film villain to prevent the inevitable double-cross. She’s trying to counter that, playing up to the mental frailty that he finds so pleasing, make it clear that she’d be incapable of such a plan and praying that he buys it.
Somewhere in the house a door slams open.
“Suzie, darling, I’m home!”
Suzie’s shoulders bunch up instinctively. Taking a deep breath, she sits up straight and purses her lips before pulling them into a wide smile. She’s had to play lots of roles to get this far, but try as she might, mentally brittle yet dutiful wife isn’t something that comes naturally.