Fic: Five/One Hundred
Title: Five/One Hundred
Author Name: Anonymous
Original Prompt: 147
Pairing: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Ianto friendship
Summary: Ianto’s sexy winking distracts Jack. Jack’s inability to remember the one night stand they had five years ago distracts Ianto.
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Nothing in this fic belongs to me.
Warnings: Sex. Occasional cursing. Smoking.
Word Count: 4322
Author's Notes: Writing a fic where Jack and Ianto talk about their relationship is hard.
Betas: The ever wonderful A, with additional help (and the listener of my complaining) from, N.
Jack felt his eyes going out of focus. If he had to read one more military debriefing, he was going to go insane. This was one of the downfalls of being the leader - all of the boring stuff. No one ever thought about the paperwork that went with all the action.
He put the debriefings aside and checked the clock. Nearly two in the morning. He knew no one was there; he had watched them all leave. Callum had clapped a hand on Ianto's shoulder and said he'd buy Ianto a drink. Ianto had agreed and looked over his shoulder, giving Jack a wink.
Jack had been thinking about that wink for hours. It was such an effortless and deliberate move. He picked up his mobile and sent Ianto a text message.
Are you asleep?
He eyed the stacks of paper while he waited. He should probably read them. He wondered how much time he could kill contemplating if he should start reading them again without actually having to.
Not long. His mobile beeped a minute later. He opened the phone and laughed.
Not anymore.
Jack could practically hear the trying-to-sound-irritated-but-actually-pleased tone that Ianto used with him so often. He thought about being coy, but that would land him waiting longer and eventually feeling like he should start working again. Instead, he got right to the point.
You should have me over.
Even if he got there and Ianto fell instantly back to sleep, it would still be more entertaining than being here alone.
The phone beeped again. He opened the phone and stared at the response. He set his elbow on the desk and worried his lower lip between his thumb and forefinger. Being puzzled by Ianto was one of the things Jack found so arousing about him, but he was unsure if this was sarcasm or an invitation.
You have a key.
Of course Jack had a key. He had keys to all his team members' flats in case of emergency. He couldn't quite grasp what Ianto meant by it - making, of course, the entire thing far more interesting.
Playing it a little safe, Jack went with the obvious.
Yes I do.
There was very little wait for the response, giving Jack a delightful mental image of Ianto shirtless in bed waiting for the messages.
You know how to use it, yes?
Shoving the mobile in his pocket and reaching for his coat, Jack was out the door as fast as he could possibly manage.
At Ianto's building, Jack smiled charmingly at the doorman, who was having none of it. He had seen Jack enough to not question, but apparently disapproved.
Once inside Ianto's incredibly flat dark flat, Jack worked his way to the bedroom.
"You made it," Ianto said.
Jack took off his coat and draped it over the chair in the corner. He couldn't see it, but he knew it was there. "Yeah. Your doorman doesn't like me." He sank onto the bed to remove his shoes.
"He's a prick."
Jack chuckled. "I'm not offended."
"You're probably more offended that he doesn't want to fuck you more than anything."
"Why would I want to do that anyway? I don't care for him myself."
"You don't have to like someone to want to fuck them," Ianto said.
Jack raised his eyebrows. "Not speaking from experience, I hope."
"Well, not currently."
"That doesn't sound very promising," Jack replied, lowering his braces.
"I like you now. I think I'll keep you."
Arms snaked around Jack's shoulders and began unbuttoning Jack's shirt. Jack shifted in surprise - he hadn't even felt Ianto move. He leaned back in to Ianto, feeling the warmth.
"You're a strange creature, Ianto Jones."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Ianto replied, nipping at Jack's earlobe.
"Are you drunk?" Jack asked suddenly. "How many drinks did the good doctor buy you?"
"Three. I bought a fourth for myself. I'm hardly drunk. That was three hours ago at that."
"I thought maybe he might have fed you drinks and taken advantage of you. You do have a history of sleeping with your co-workers."
"And you don't? Besides, Callum is straight. He may go gay for you, though. You have that effect on people - most definitely speaking from experience."
"Seriously?" Jack turned around, though he was doing well to see the outline of Ianto, let alone the details of his face. "You hadn't been with a man before me?"
"Seriously," Ianto replied.
"I had no idea."
"I'm that good. Now, take off your trousers."
Jack grinned as he began unzipping his fly. "And what are you going to do with me once I have my trousers off?"
"Whatever it is you came here for. I'm in a giving mood." Ianto paused. "Perhaps I am a bit drunk."
"You give plenty, and - ahhhhh. You're quite good at it," Jack said, running his fingers through Ianto's hair. "Very good, actually. More than good." He growled softly in the back of his throat.
Ianto looked up. "How is it, again?"
Jack pushed Ianto's head back down. "Keep going."
Ianto chuckled, and Jack groaned, flopping backward onto the bed. He grabbed at Ianto's shoulder blade, trying to grip the skin between his fingers. His hand moved up Ianto's neck and pulled at his hair.
Initially, Jack had wanted to say something about how he hadn't come over for sex, but the truth was, he hadn't come over solely for sex. Now that it was happening, he was certainly glad he hadn't made that comment. It would be like Ianto to be put off by such a statement, especially if he was drunk and tired.
And, really, when he could do things like this with his mouth, why should he ever be stopped?
When he was finished, Ianto aligned himself with Jack, and kissed him, causing warmth to spread through Jack, not unlike coming a second time.
"Are you going or staying?" Ianto asked softly in Jack's ear.
"Staying," Jack replied with no hesitation. He didn't mention that if he went back to the Hub, he would have work. Here, he could relax. Ianto knew that anyway.
"Good," Ianto said so quietly it was more like a sigh. He sat up. "I'm going to get a water, you want one?"
Jack sat up as well. He put a hand on Ianto's shoulder. "I'll get it. You rest after all your hard work."
"You were the one who was hard."
Jack laughed. He kicked off his trousers and underwear that were tangled at his ankles and pulled his tee shirt up over his head. He maneuvered himself through the dark apartment and switched on the kitchen light.
The kitchen was organized and tidy, though it looked more like no one lived there at all than someone keeping it up. He opened the refrigerator and found no perishables; only condiments, a six-pack of beer with four missing bottles, and a dozen or so plastic water bottles. Definitely the sign of someone who didn't expect to be home much.
He grabbed two bottles of water and went back to the bedroom.
"Thank you," Ianto said, taking one of the bottles. He was sitting up in bed with the blankets pulled up to his waist. He had switched on a lamp, giving the room a dull yellow glow.
"You're welcome." Jack replied as he sat down on the bed. He pulled the blanket around himself. Ianto's hand, slipped under the comforter, went to Jack's thigh in a very natural move. Jack approved. "I'm still amazed that I'm the only man you've been with. Your kind of skill usually takes practice."
"I told you. I'm just that good. And I said 'first', not only."
Jack raised his eyebrows. "When was this?"
Ianto looked nonchalant. "I may have had a few while you were away."
"You're full of surprises. I never took you as a one night stand kind of guy."
Ianto laughed. "Jack, the first time we were together was a one night stand."
Jack looked at him strangely. They never spoke about Ianto's first few months with Torchwood or the sex that happened in that time, what with the lies and deception. It was best to be skimmed over now that they were in a seemingly functioning relationship. (Jack was comfortable with the word 'relationship' at this time, since they'd been hanging somewhere between there and 'arrangement' for so long. It was a natural step forward. He didn't know how Ianto felt about it, and wasn't looking to talk about it.)
"I wouldn't considering shagging on my desk a one night stand since we did it again the next day. Maybe on a night stand-"
"Not that. When we met in Brighton," Ianto said.
"I haven't been to Brighton since they opened the Palace Pier," Jack said. "When were you there?"
"2004. A few months before I was recruited into Torchwood. We met outside a night club - not that narrows down much for Brighton, but... you came back with me to my place."
Jack's mind raced. Had he been there some other time? He hadn't spent a lot of time in the early twenty-first century prior to his travels with the Doctor.
"Wasn't me," he said finally. "Maybe just have a type? Dashingly handsome."
Ianto rolled his eyes. "There are things that are so uniquely you. And not just the sex, the way you smell, and the way you look at people, the ones you want to fuck and the ones you want to flirt with because you flirt with everyone. There are things you don't forget, Jack, and you can't get them mixed up."
It was a convincing argument. It all sounded right and plausible, and, hell, it probably was him. But Jack couldn't place it. He couldn't remember sleeping with Ianto until that time on the desk. That felt like the first time.
"I don't remember that at all," Jack said with a sheepish laugh.
"It was only five years ago." Ianto capped his water bottle and set it on the floor.
"For you maybe. That doesn't sound like me five years ago, it sounds like me a hundred years ago. I'm sorry." It all came out a bit harsher than Jack would have liked, but Ianto knew that he traveled through time and sometimes things went out of order for him. What was he supposed to do? Lie? Coddle him? Of course not.
"It's fine," Ianto said, slipping into a lying position. "Doesn't matter, I guess. I'm going to sleep, I think. Wake me in an hour, if you want. So you're not spending too much time bored."
"I might sleep," Jack said. He reached over Ianto to turn out the light. He knew he had hurt Ianto, or possibly embarrassed him by contradicting him so much. All he could do now was remind Ianto that he was there, here and now, remembering.
He wrapped his arms around Ianto and kissed his neck. "Sleep well."
-Five Years Earlier, Brighton-
Ianto was surprised how bright the street lamps seemed in contrast to the dark club. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. His other hand slipped into the opposite pocket. It was empty.
Shit. His lighter must have fallen out.
Well, there was no time like the present to quit. Of course, this was a new pack of fags. He'd only smoked one. That seemed wasteful.
"Hey, mate, you got a light?"
The man turned and eyed Ianto. He grinned. "Of course." He reached into his pocket and retrieved a book of matches. He struck one and held out the lit match to Ianto.
"Thanks," Ianto said, leaning toward the flame. He lit the cigarette and stepped back. "Thanks."
"You said that twice."
"I did." Ianto leaned against the brick building. He eyed the man. Handsome, and definitely aware of it. Ianto was aware of it, too.
Ianto may have made a point to come to Brighton, taking in the night life, for the sake of being with a man. He'd known himself as bisexual for years, but had still only been with women. When a friend of a friend had a room open while their roommate studied abroad, Ianto took it, and got a job in a shop. He'd been going from city to city for a while now, and he was pretty good at making his way. He hadn't found a place he belonged, but really, anything was better than Cardiff. It was the one place he never really fit.
The man leaned against the wall as well, his body leaning toward Ianto's. His eyes were dark and lusting. "You got a name?"
Ianto looked at him. They were about the same height. This wasn't the kind of person he was going to spend the rest of his life with. He was young. He wanted adventure, that's what all of this was about, the wandering around. Living his life to the fullest. Not being tied down. And did he expect to be tied to some sexy American? No.
He put the fag to his lips and inhaled. "No," he replied coolly. "No names."
A grin. "If that's your fancy, I'm game. Let me buy you a drink."
"Or we could have one back at mine."
"Even better. Lead the way."
Ianto took another drag on his cigarette as he pulled away from the building. He felt mature and insecure at the same time. He decided to let no-name take the lead. Ianto was good at following. There was a distinct rumble of nerves in his stomach. He inhaled long and hard on the cigarette to calm himself. He tossed the butt aside.
No-name rested his hand at the base of Ianto's neck. "Relax. Someone with an ass like yours shouldn't be nervous about anything."
"When did you get a look at my ass?" Ianto asked. He had kept his back to the wall.
"In the club. I followed you out. I didn't expect you to give me the opening. You're just full of surprises."
"And there's a lot more where that came from," Ianto replied without missing a beat. Maybe it was the touch, or the compliment, or knowing that he caught the eye of this handsome stranger, who was becoming more handsome every time Ianto looked at him, without approaching him, but his nerves were melting away.
The stranger laughed, a loud, warm, friendly, seductive laugh that seemed to take over his entire body. He pressed his lips to Ianto's ear, first in a kiss, and then to whisper, "I like the sound of that."
Ianto, unsure if he could make it to his flat with what seemed like all the blood in his body throbbing in his cock, went to change the subject. "What are you in England for?"
"A little bit of business," he replied. His voice dropped. "And a whole lot of pleasure."
Okay. Fine. Changing the subject was no good. It would be all right once they got indoors, but Ianto was ready to go for an alley at this point. This wasn't going to be some special, meaningful first time, but it didn't have to be grungy.
He was ready for another cigarette by the time they made it to his building. His hands shook a bit as he turned the key to the apartment. He could feel the breath on the back of his neck and it made him warm all over, but it was not helping.
Once inside, the man's arms were around Ianto, pulling him close for a kiss. Nerves, inhibitions and resolve magically vanished as Ianto kissed him back. He pulled away, painfully, to say, "My room." Part of the arrangement for him staying there was keeping his head down. Sex on the kitchen floor seemed to be the opposite of that.
He grabbed the handsome man by the lapels of his jacket and pulled him toward the second bedroom. Ianto closed the bedroom door with his foot and they fell in a graceful tangle onto the bed.
"You're very forceful," said the stranger approvingly. His mouth roamed down Ianto's neck as he unbuttoned Ianto's shirt, kissing the exposed skin as he went. When he got to Ianto's stomach, he kissed the soft flesh, sucking on it. He began unbuckling Ianto's studded belt.
Ianto held tight onto the pillows above his head. He tried not to wiggle or make too much sound. He couldn't, however, be stopped from whimpering when no-name took Ianto's cock in his mouth, his hands -those large, strong, powerful hands- rested, rubbing gently, on Ianto's stomach. The combination was overwhelming. It was like he knew, instinctively, all of Ianto's most sensitive places and exactly how to touch them.
"Oh, don't stop," Ianto said when there was no longer a mouth on him.
There was a soft laugh. "I'll make it worth your while. Roll over. And don't worry - I brought my own protection."
"Good, yes, thank you," Ianto mumbled. He worked the rest of the way out of his jeans and pulled off his jacket and unbuttoned shirt. He hesitated, staring down at the stranger who was also removing his clothes. He wanted to say something smart and sexy, but he could only stare. God, this man was beautiful.
He reached out with those hands and gently turned Ianto at the hips and ran his hands over Ianto's bottom. "In some cultures, an ass this perfect would be worshiped. And not just by me."
Ianto gasped out loud with each kiss that was placed so delicately. When the kisses stopped, he squeezed his fingers tight around the sheets in the anticipation of what was going to happen next.
"You ready?"
"Yeah," Ianto breathed. It was disconcerting, being exposed like this, no matter how good it felt, at the hands of a complete stranger. Those thoughts melted away with the warm, wet pressure pushing in at his backside. He pushed back against it. He didn't want to be perceived as passive and simply taking it. It worked.
"Oh ho! Feisty!" He leaned over Ianto's back and hissed in his ear. "I like that."
Ianto closed his eyes and tried to stop thinking. He reached out with his instinct to do what came naturally. He moved and reacted with the stranger, trying to remember every touch, every slight pressure, every cause of pleasure. He wanted to memorize every move.
Growing up, Ianto had read anything he could get his hands on. Several of those things were trashy Mills and Boon novels his mother read. He had read of Earth-shaking orgasms, but had never once experienced one until that night.
"Oh, god," Ianto panted, his arms going to limp, no longer supporting him. He fell against the mattress, hard. He didn't care. The wind was already knocked out of him.
The man laughed and ruffled Ianto's hair before flopping down next to him, flashing that toothpaste commercial smile. "Your ass did not disappoint. I knew that was a good one. I can spot a good one from a mile off."
Ianto laughed. He reached for his cigarettes. "You want one?"
"Sure. Thanks."
He pulled out two and lit them both with a lighter he'd found on the night stand. He handed one to no-name. "You do this a lot, then? Pick up guys in clubs?"
"In clubs, off the street, wherever."
"So, no boyfriends for you, huh?"
He laughed, and took a thoughtful drag off the cigarette. "I just got out of a very long relationship. Not that either of us were very faithful, or expected each other to be. Now, I'm... doing what I do best."
"I've never had a one nighter before," Ianto admitted. "Not with a man."
"I could tell. You were a little jumpy."
Ianto laughed. "A little, yeah."
"I tried to calm your nerves. You're just a natural." He slipped the cigarette between his lips and got up, getting dressed. Ianto sat up to get a good long look at his body, on more time.
"You want to take pictures?" he asked with a cheeky grin.
"No, I'm fine." Ianto looked away, and then looked back. Obviously, this guy didn't mind being watched.
Dressed, he took the last drag off the cigarette and squashed it out in the ashtray. He leaned over and took the back of Ianto's head in his hand and pulled him closer for a kiss, the smoke winding up around them, burning Ianto's eyes. "See you in hell."
He left, and Ianto grinned to himself.
-Present Day-
"Ohhh, look who's coming in together late?" Gwen teased from her desk.
"We aren't late," Jack said, smiling at her. "You're early."
We're late, Ianto mouthed at her. She giggled.
Jack retreated into his office and Ianto went to the coffee maker, noting that Gwen was following him. He looked at her. "I never kiss and tell."
"Oh, bollocks," Gwen replied, looking amused. "He stayed the night?"
"Out of... guilt," Ianto replied.
She stopped smiling. "Guilt?"
"It's nothing. It's fine."
"Ianto. Talk to me."
He shrugged. "There's nothing to say." He was quiet and tried to ignore her staring at him. She was so goddamn stubborn, she'd follow him around all day, giving him that stare until he told her what was going on in his head. He sighed.
"You're lucky, Gwen."
Gwen blinked at him, obviously not expecting that response. "I am?"
Ianto was pouring beans into the grinder. He didn't look up at her. "You know where you stand with Rhys. You know about his past. You probably know how many women he'd been with before you."
"Yes, I do," she said softly when he paused.
"That doesn't exist with Jack. I thought I knew where I stood, and now I realize it's on a list of names. Number ten thousand or so. He doesn't even know how many people he's fucked."
"Ianto-"
Gwen was cut off by the bean grinder. She crossed her arms and looked impatiently at Ianto. When the grinder shut off -Ianto wasn't the type to over-grind the beans for the sake of cutting off the conversation- she continued. "Is that surprising to you?"
"No, but..." Ianto transferred the grounds to the machine. "You are going to be with someone your whole life who will spend their whole like with you. And when you grow old and die, you will know that you had this meaningful... thing."
"Assuming I get to grow old," Gwen said.
"That aside. Do you know what I get? To figure that in a hundred years, I will be forgotten. I'll be just another shag on a desk in an office. It's all going to be forgotten and done except for his bloody fucking Doctor." Ianto's voice remained calm, but he kicked at nothing in front of him.
Gwen studied him carefully and said, "I thought you were past that."
"I am." Ianto sighed. He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Ianto."
"Yes?"
"Talk to Jack about it."
Ianto rolled his eyes. "He's a man of few words."
Gwen put her hand on Ianto's shoulder. "He'll make a few for you."
He turned on the coffee maker. "If you say so."
"Anything else I, as Torchwood's busy body, should know?"
"The reason we're late is because the SUV needed petrol and we got coffee while we were there. The reason cheap coffee is so cheap is because it's shit. Remember that."
Gwen giggled. "I'll remember."
Ianto studied the coffee pot, watching it fill. "You want the first hit of the morning?"
"Ooh, strong and hot, just how I like it," she said, grinning. "Thank you."
Gwen now happy with her fresh coffee, Ianto filled Jack's blue and white mug, and took it to his office.
"Thank you, Ianto," Jack said, looking up briefly from the paper in his hand.
Ianto took a step back and then swallowed. "Jack. Could we talk? It will just take a moment."
"Yeah," Jack replied, his eyes still on the paper. He looked up after a moment. "What?"
"About last night. I overreacted. I was a bit drunk and tired and... that's all I've got."
Jack looked at him for a moment and set down the paper. He stood up and went over to Ianto, taking one of his hands. "If I could remember every one night stand I ever had, there would not be room in my brain for anything else. I have too much to think about."
"If I had thought about it, I would have realized that."
"And you are one of those very important things I think about."
"Again, I should have thought of that. Especially from the two AM text messages. Thank you. We have this cleared up." Ianto pulled his hand away from Jack and started for the door.
"Ianto." Jack's voice was firm and knowing. "What did you want to talk about?"
Ianto looked at Jack, hands on his hips. "I'll be blunt. In a hundred years, or a thousand, are you even going to remember who I am? That this time right now even went on?"
"I remember everyone I love. That includes this time. Right now. And you." Jack took Ianto's hand and spun him around so his back was pressed against Jack's chest. He nuzzled up against Ianto's neck. "Now. Tell me everything that happened on that night. I want all the dirty details."
Ianto chuckled. "You don't need to hear a story about how much I enjoyed having sex with you."
"But it was an anonymous encounter! Tell me the story, we'll recreate it tonight, how does that sound?"
"Delightful. But drink that coffee before it gets cold, first. I wouldn't have wasted my time if I'd known you weren't going to drink it."
"You are the only man in the world who finds coffee more important than sex," Jack said, leaning back to grab his mug.
Ianto raised his eyebrows. "Sex can always wait. A good cup of coffee only has so much time, and needs to be enjoyed thoroughly."
Jack took a sip of the coffee. "You are very strange, Ianto."
"Tell me that's not a fucking good cup of coffee."
"It's a fucking good cup of coffee."
Ianto turned around and kissed Jack briefly. "Thank you." He winked and slipped out of the office.
Shaking his head, Jack sat back down at his desk, chuckling to himself. He picked up the report and looked back to the empty doorway. He didn't want to think about a hundred, or a thousand years from now. It was the kind of thing that kept him from thinking about the past. There wasn't anything more depressing than knowing you would outlive everyone your life revolves around and there being nothing you can do about it.
Instead, he thought about that wink. Ianto was good at that. Did he know the distracting effect of them? Probably. Jack smiled to himself as he took another drink of coffee and went back to the report.
Author Name: Anonymous
Original Prompt: 147
Pairing: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Ianto friendship
Summary: Ianto’s sexy winking distracts Jack. Jack’s inability to remember the one night stand they had five years ago distracts Ianto.
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Nothing in this fic belongs to me.
Warnings: Sex. Occasional cursing. Smoking.
Word Count: 4322
Author's Notes: Writing a fic where Jack and Ianto talk about their relationship is hard.
Betas: The ever wonderful A, with additional help (and the listener of my complaining) from, N.
Jack felt his eyes going out of focus. If he had to read one more military debriefing, he was going to go insane. This was one of the downfalls of being the leader - all of the boring stuff. No one ever thought about the paperwork that went with all the action.
He put the debriefings aside and checked the clock. Nearly two in the morning. He knew no one was there; he had watched them all leave. Callum had clapped a hand on Ianto's shoulder and said he'd buy Ianto a drink. Ianto had agreed and looked over his shoulder, giving Jack a wink.
Jack had been thinking about that wink for hours. It was such an effortless and deliberate move. He picked up his mobile and sent Ianto a text message.
Are you asleep?
He eyed the stacks of paper while he waited. He should probably read them. He wondered how much time he could kill contemplating if he should start reading them again without actually having to.
Not long. His mobile beeped a minute later. He opened the phone and laughed.
Not anymore.
Jack could practically hear the trying-to-sound-irritated-but-actually-pleased tone that Ianto used with him so often. He thought about being coy, but that would land him waiting longer and eventually feeling like he should start working again. Instead, he got right to the point.
You should have me over.
Even if he got there and Ianto fell instantly back to sleep, it would still be more entertaining than being here alone.
The phone beeped again. He opened the phone and stared at the response. He set his elbow on the desk and worried his lower lip between his thumb and forefinger. Being puzzled by Ianto was one of the things Jack found so arousing about him, but he was unsure if this was sarcasm or an invitation.
You have a key.
Of course Jack had a key. He had keys to all his team members' flats in case of emergency. He couldn't quite grasp what Ianto meant by it - making, of course, the entire thing far more interesting.
Playing it a little safe, Jack went with the obvious.
Yes I do.
There was very little wait for the response, giving Jack a delightful mental image of Ianto shirtless in bed waiting for the messages.
You know how to use it, yes?
Shoving the mobile in his pocket and reaching for his coat, Jack was out the door as fast as he could possibly manage.
At Ianto's building, Jack smiled charmingly at the doorman, who was having none of it. He had seen Jack enough to not question, but apparently disapproved.
Once inside Ianto's incredibly flat dark flat, Jack worked his way to the bedroom.
"You made it," Ianto said.
Jack took off his coat and draped it over the chair in the corner. He couldn't see it, but he knew it was there. "Yeah. Your doorman doesn't like me." He sank onto the bed to remove his shoes.
"He's a prick."
Jack chuckled. "I'm not offended."
"You're probably more offended that he doesn't want to fuck you more than anything."
"Why would I want to do that anyway? I don't care for him myself."
"You don't have to like someone to want to fuck them," Ianto said.
Jack raised his eyebrows. "Not speaking from experience, I hope."
"Well, not currently."
"That doesn't sound very promising," Jack replied, lowering his braces.
"I like you now. I think I'll keep you."
Arms snaked around Jack's shoulders and began unbuttoning Jack's shirt. Jack shifted in surprise - he hadn't even felt Ianto move. He leaned back in to Ianto, feeling the warmth.
"You're a strange creature, Ianto Jones."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Ianto replied, nipping at Jack's earlobe.
"Are you drunk?" Jack asked suddenly. "How many drinks did the good doctor buy you?"
"Three. I bought a fourth for myself. I'm hardly drunk. That was three hours ago at that."
"I thought maybe he might have fed you drinks and taken advantage of you. You do have a history of sleeping with your co-workers."
"And you don't? Besides, Callum is straight. He may go gay for you, though. You have that effect on people - most definitely speaking from experience."
"Seriously?" Jack turned around, though he was doing well to see the outline of Ianto, let alone the details of his face. "You hadn't been with a man before me?"
"Seriously," Ianto replied.
"I had no idea."
"I'm that good. Now, take off your trousers."
Jack grinned as he began unzipping his fly. "And what are you going to do with me once I have my trousers off?"
"Whatever it is you came here for. I'm in a giving mood." Ianto paused. "Perhaps I am a bit drunk."
"You give plenty, and - ahhhhh. You're quite good at it," Jack said, running his fingers through Ianto's hair. "Very good, actually. More than good." He growled softly in the back of his throat.
Ianto looked up. "How is it, again?"
Jack pushed Ianto's head back down. "Keep going."
Ianto chuckled, and Jack groaned, flopping backward onto the bed. He grabbed at Ianto's shoulder blade, trying to grip the skin between his fingers. His hand moved up Ianto's neck and pulled at his hair.
Initially, Jack had wanted to say something about how he hadn't come over for sex, but the truth was, he hadn't come over solely for sex. Now that it was happening, he was certainly glad he hadn't made that comment. It would be like Ianto to be put off by such a statement, especially if he was drunk and tired.
And, really, when he could do things like this with his mouth, why should he ever be stopped?
When he was finished, Ianto aligned himself with Jack, and kissed him, causing warmth to spread through Jack, not unlike coming a second time.
"Are you going or staying?" Ianto asked softly in Jack's ear.
"Staying," Jack replied with no hesitation. He didn't mention that if he went back to the Hub, he would have work. Here, he could relax. Ianto knew that anyway.
"Good," Ianto said so quietly it was more like a sigh. He sat up. "I'm going to get a water, you want one?"
Jack sat up as well. He put a hand on Ianto's shoulder. "I'll get it. You rest after all your hard work."
"You were the one who was hard."
Jack laughed. He kicked off his trousers and underwear that were tangled at his ankles and pulled his tee shirt up over his head. He maneuvered himself through the dark apartment and switched on the kitchen light.
The kitchen was organized and tidy, though it looked more like no one lived there at all than someone keeping it up. He opened the refrigerator and found no perishables; only condiments, a six-pack of beer with four missing bottles, and a dozen or so plastic water bottles. Definitely the sign of someone who didn't expect to be home much.
He grabbed two bottles of water and went back to the bedroom.
"Thank you," Ianto said, taking one of the bottles. He was sitting up in bed with the blankets pulled up to his waist. He had switched on a lamp, giving the room a dull yellow glow.
"You're welcome." Jack replied as he sat down on the bed. He pulled the blanket around himself. Ianto's hand, slipped under the comforter, went to Jack's thigh in a very natural move. Jack approved. "I'm still amazed that I'm the only man you've been with. Your kind of skill usually takes practice."
"I told you. I'm just that good. And I said 'first', not only."
Jack raised his eyebrows. "When was this?"
Ianto looked nonchalant. "I may have had a few while you were away."
"You're full of surprises. I never took you as a one night stand kind of guy."
Ianto laughed. "Jack, the first time we were together was a one night stand."
Jack looked at him strangely. They never spoke about Ianto's first few months with Torchwood or the sex that happened in that time, what with the lies and deception. It was best to be skimmed over now that they were in a seemingly functioning relationship. (Jack was comfortable with the word 'relationship' at this time, since they'd been hanging somewhere between there and 'arrangement' for so long. It was a natural step forward. He didn't know how Ianto felt about it, and wasn't looking to talk about it.)
"I wouldn't considering shagging on my desk a one night stand since we did it again the next day. Maybe on a night stand-"
"Not that. When we met in Brighton," Ianto said.
"I haven't been to Brighton since they opened the Palace Pier," Jack said. "When were you there?"
"2004. A few months before I was recruited into Torchwood. We met outside a night club - not that narrows down much for Brighton, but... you came back with me to my place."
Jack's mind raced. Had he been there some other time? He hadn't spent a lot of time in the early twenty-first century prior to his travels with the Doctor.
"Wasn't me," he said finally. "Maybe just have a type? Dashingly handsome."
Ianto rolled his eyes. "There are things that are so uniquely you. And not just the sex, the way you smell, and the way you look at people, the ones you want to fuck and the ones you want to flirt with because you flirt with everyone. There are things you don't forget, Jack, and you can't get them mixed up."
It was a convincing argument. It all sounded right and plausible, and, hell, it probably was him. But Jack couldn't place it. He couldn't remember sleeping with Ianto until that time on the desk. That felt like the first time.
"I don't remember that at all," Jack said with a sheepish laugh.
"It was only five years ago." Ianto capped his water bottle and set it on the floor.
"For you maybe. That doesn't sound like me five years ago, it sounds like me a hundred years ago. I'm sorry." It all came out a bit harsher than Jack would have liked, but Ianto knew that he traveled through time and sometimes things went out of order for him. What was he supposed to do? Lie? Coddle him? Of course not.
"It's fine," Ianto said, slipping into a lying position. "Doesn't matter, I guess. I'm going to sleep, I think. Wake me in an hour, if you want. So you're not spending too much time bored."
"I might sleep," Jack said. He reached over Ianto to turn out the light. He knew he had hurt Ianto, or possibly embarrassed him by contradicting him so much. All he could do now was remind Ianto that he was there, here and now, remembering.
He wrapped his arms around Ianto and kissed his neck. "Sleep well."
-Five Years Earlier, Brighton-
Ianto was surprised how bright the street lamps seemed in contrast to the dark club. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. His other hand slipped into the opposite pocket. It was empty.
Shit. His lighter must have fallen out.
Well, there was no time like the present to quit. Of course, this was a new pack of fags. He'd only smoked one. That seemed wasteful.
"Hey, mate, you got a light?"
The man turned and eyed Ianto. He grinned. "Of course." He reached into his pocket and retrieved a book of matches. He struck one and held out the lit match to Ianto.
"Thanks," Ianto said, leaning toward the flame. He lit the cigarette and stepped back. "Thanks."
"You said that twice."
"I did." Ianto leaned against the brick building. He eyed the man. Handsome, and definitely aware of it. Ianto was aware of it, too.
Ianto may have made a point to come to Brighton, taking in the night life, for the sake of being with a man. He'd known himself as bisexual for years, but had still only been with women. When a friend of a friend had a room open while their roommate studied abroad, Ianto took it, and got a job in a shop. He'd been going from city to city for a while now, and he was pretty good at making his way. He hadn't found a place he belonged, but really, anything was better than Cardiff. It was the one place he never really fit.
The man leaned against the wall as well, his body leaning toward Ianto's. His eyes were dark and lusting. "You got a name?"
Ianto looked at him. They were about the same height. This wasn't the kind of person he was going to spend the rest of his life with. He was young. He wanted adventure, that's what all of this was about, the wandering around. Living his life to the fullest. Not being tied down. And did he expect to be tied to some sexy American? No.
He put the fag to his lips and inhaled. "No," he replied coolly. "No names."
A grin. "If that's your fancy, I'm game. Let me buy you a drink."
"Or we could have one back at mine."
"Even better. Lead the way."
Ianto took another drag on his cigarette as he pulled away from the building. He felt mature and insecure at the same time. He decided to let no-name take the lead. Ianto was good at following. There was a distinct rumble of nerves in his stomach. He inhaled long and hard on the cigarette to calm himself. He tossed the butt aside.
No-name rested his hand at the base of Ianto's neck. "Relax. Someone with an ass like yours shouldn't be nervous about anything."
"When did you get a look at my ass?" Ianto asked. He had kept his back to the wall.
"In the club. I followed you out. I didn't expect you to give me the opening. You're just full of surprises."
"And there's a lot more where that came from," Ianto replied without missing a beat. Maybe it was the touch, or the compliment, or knowing that he caught the eye of this handsome stranger, who was becoming more handsome every time Ianto looked at him, without approaching him, but his nerves were melting away.
The stranger laughed, a loud, warm, friendly, seductive laugh that seemed to take over his entire body. He pressed his lips to Ianto's ear, first in a kiss, and then to whisper, "I like the sound of that."
Ianto, unsure if he could make it to his flat with what seemed like all the blood in his body throbbing in his cock, went to change the subject. "What are you in England for?"
"A little bit of business," he replied. His voice dropped. "And a whole lot of pleasure."
Okay. Fine. Changing the subject was no good. It would be all right once they got indoors, but Ianto was ready to go for an alley at this point. This wasn't going to be some special, meaningful first time, but it didn't have to be grungy.
He was ready for another cigarette by the time they made it to his building. His hands shook a bit as he turned the key to the apartment. He could feel the breath on the back of his neck and it made him warm all over, but it was not helping.
Once inside, the man's arms were around Ianto, pulling him close for a kiss. Nerves, inhibitions and resolve magically vanished as Ianto kissed him back. He pulled away, painfully, to say, "My room." Part of the arrangement for him staying there was keeping his head down. Sex on the kitchen floor seemed to be the opposite of that.
He grabbed the handsome man by the lapels of his jacket and pulled him toward the second bedroom. Ianto closed the bedroom door with his foot and they fell in a graceful tangle onto the bed.
"You're very forceful," said the stranger approvingly. His mouth roamed down Ianto's neck as he unbuttoned Ianto's shirt, kissing the exposed skin as he went. When he got to Ianto's stomach, he kissed the soft flesh, sucking on it. He began unbuckling Ianto's studded belt.
Ianto held tight onto the pillows above his head. He tried not to wiggle or make too much sound. He couldn't, however, be stopped from whimpering when no-name took Ianto's cock in his mouth, his hands -those large, strong, powerful hands- rested, rubbing gently, on Ianto's stomach. The combination was overwhelming. It was like he knew, instinctively, all of Ianto's most sensitive places and exactly how to touch them.
"Oh, don't stop," Ianto said when there was no longer a mouth on him.
There was a soft laugh. "I'll make it worth your while. Roll over. And don't worry - I brought my own protection."
"Good, yes, thank you," Ianto mumbled. He worked the rest of the way out of his jeans and pulled off his jacket and unbuttoned shirt. He hesitated, staring down at the stranger who was also removing his clothes. He wanted to say something smart and sexy, but he could only stare. God, this man was beautiful.
He reached out with those hands and gently turned Ianto at the hips and ran his hands over Ianto's bottom. "In some cultures, an ass this perfect would be worshiped. And not just by me."
Ianto gasped out loud with each kiss that was placed so delicately. When the kisses stopped, he squeezed his fingers tight around the sheets in the anticipation of what was going to happen next.
"You ready?"
"Yeah," Ianto breathed. It was disconcerting, being exposed like this, no matter how good it felt, at the hands of a complete stranger. Those thoughts melted away with the warm, wet pressure pushing in at his backside. He pushed back against it. He didn't want to be perceived as passive and simply taking it. It worked.
"Oh ho! Feisty!" He leaned over Ianto's back and hissed in his ear. "I like that."
Ianto closed his eyes and tried to stop thinking. He reached out with his instinct to do what came naturally. He moved and reacted with the stranger, trying to remember every touch, every slight pressure, every cause of pleasure. He wanted to memorize every move.
Growing up, Ianto had read anything he could get his hands on. Several of those things were trashy Mills and Boon novels his mother read. He had read of Earth-shaking orgasms, but had never once experienced one until that night.
"Oh, god," Ianto panted, his arms going to limp, no longer supporting him. He fell against the mattress, hard. He didn't care. The wind was already knocked out of him.
The man laughed and ruffled Ianto's hair before flopping down next to him, flashing that toothpaste commercial smile. "Your ass did not disappoint. I knew that was a good one. I can spot a good one from a mile off."
Ianto laughed. He reached for his cigarettes. "You want one?"
"Sure. Thanks."
He pulled out two and lit them both with a lighter he'd found on the night stand. He handed one to no-name. "You do this a lot, then? Pick up guys in clubs?"
"In clubs, off the street, wherever."
"So, no boyfriends for you, huh?"
He laughed, and took a thoughtful drag off the cigarette. "I just got out of a very long relationship. Not that either of us were very faithful, or expected each other to be. Now, I'm... doing what I do best."
"I've never had a one nighter before," Ianto admitted. "Not with a man."
"I could tell. You were a little jumpy."
Ianto laughed. "A little, yeah."
"I tried to calm your nerves. You're just a natural." He slipped the cigarette between his lips and got up, getting dressed. Ianto sat up to get a good long look at his body, on more time.
"You want to take pictures?" he asked with a cheeky grin.
"No, I'm fine." Ianto looked away, and then looked back. Obviously, this guy didn't mind being watched.
Dressed, he took the last drag off the cigarette and squashed it out in the ashtray. He leaned over and took the back of Ianto's head in his hand and pulled him closer for a kiss, the smoke winding up around them, burning Ianto's eyes. "See you in hell."
He left, and Ianto grinned to himself.
-Present Day-
"Ohhh, look who's coming in together late?" Gwen teased from her desk.
"We aren't late," Jack said, smiling at her. "You're early."
We're late, Ianto mouthed at her. She giggled.
Jack retreated into his office and Ianto went to the coffee maker, noting that Gwen was following him. He looked at her. "I never kiss and tell."
"Oh, bollocks," Gwen replied, looking amused. "He stayed the night?"
"Out of... guilt," Ianto replied.
She stopped smiling. "Guilt?"
"It's nothing. It's fine."
"Ianto. Talk to me."
He shrugged. "There's nothing to say." He was quiet and tried to ignore her staring at him. She was so goddamn stubborn, she'd follow him around all day, giving him that stare until he told her what was going on in his head. He sighed.
"You're lucky, Gwen."
Gwen blinked at him, obviously not expecting that response. "I am?"
Ianto was pouring beans into the grinder. He didn't look up at her. "You know where you stand with Rhys. You know about his past. You probably know how many women he'd been with before you."
"Yes, I do," she said softly when he paused.
"That doesn't exist with Jack. I thought I knew where I stood, and now I realize it's on a list of names. Number ten thousand or so. He doesn't even know how many people he's fucked."
"Ianto-"
Gwen was cut off by the bean grinder. She crossed her arms and looked impatiently at Ianto. When the grinder shut off -Ianto wasn't the type to over-grind the beans for the sake of cutting off the conversation- she continued. "Is that surprising to you?"
"No, but..." Ianto transferred the grounds to the machine. "You are going to be with someone your whole life who will spend their whole like with you. And when you grow old and die, you will know that you had this meaningful... thing."
"Assuming I get to grow old," Gwen said.
"That aside. Do you know what I get? To figure that in a hundred years, I will be forgotten. I'll be just another shag on a desk in an office. It's all going to be forgotten and done except for his bloody fucking Doctor." Ianto's voice remained calm, but he kicked at nothing in front of him.
Gwen studied him carefully and said, "I thought you were past that."
"I am." Ianto sighed. He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Ianto."
"Yes?"
"Talk to Jack about it."
Ianto rolled his eyes. "He's a man of few words."
Gwen put her hand on Ianto's shoulder. "He'll make a few for you."
He turned on the coffee maker. "If you say so."
"Anything else I, as Torchwood's busy body, should know?"
"The reason we're late is because the SUV needed petrol and we got coffee while we were there. The reason cheap coffee is so cheap is because it's shit. Remember that."
Gwen giggled. "I'll remember."
Ianto studied the coffee pot, watching it fill. "You want the first hit of the morning?"
"Ooh, strong and hot, just how I like it," she said, grinning. "Thank you."
Gwen now happy with her fresh coffee, Ianto filled Jack's blue and white mug, and took it to his office.
"Thank you, Ianto," Jack said, looking up briefly from the paper in his hand.
Ianto took a step back and then swallowed. "Jack. Could we talk? It will just take a moment."
"Yeah," Jack replied, his eyes still on the paper. He looked up after a moment. "What?"
"About last night. I overreacted. I was a bit drunk and tired and... that's all I've got."
Jack looked at him for a moment and set down the paper. He stood up and went over to Ianto, taking one of his hands. "If I could remember every one night stand I ever had, there would not be room in my brain for anything else. I have too much to think about."
"If I had thought about it, I would have realized that."
"And you are one of those very important things I think about."
"Again, I should have thought of that. Especially from the two AM text messages. Thank you. We have this cleared up." Ianto pulled his hand away from Jack and started for the door.
"Ianto." Jack's voice was firm and knowing. "What did you want to talk about?"
Ianto looked at Jack, hands on his hips. "I'll be blunt. In a hundred years, or a thousand, are you even going to remember who I am? That this time right now even went on?"
"I remember everyone I love. That includes this time. Right now. And you." Jack took Ianto's hand and spun him around so his back was pressed against Jack's chest. He nuzzled up against Ianto's neck. "Now. Tell me everything that happened on that night. I want all the dirty details."
Ianto chuckled. "You don't need to hear a story about how much I enjoyed having sex with you."
"But it was an anonymous encounter! Tell me the story, we'll recreate it tonight, how does that sound?"
"Delightful. But drink that coffee before it gets cold, first. I wouldn't have wasted my time if I'd known you weren't going to drink it."
"You are the only man in the world who finds coffee more important than sex," Jack said, leaning back to grab his mug.
Ianto raised his eyebrows. "Sex can always wait. A good cup of coffee only has so much time, and needs to be enjoyed thoroughly."
Jack took a sip of the coffee. "You are very strange, Ianto."
"Tell me that's not a fucking good cup of coffee."
"It's a fucking good cup of coffee."
Ianto turned around and kissed Jack briefly. "Thank you." He winked and slipped out of the office.
Shaking his head, Jack sat back down at his desk, chuckling to himself. He picked up the report and looked back to the empty doorway. He didn't want to think about a hundred, or a thousand years from now. It was the kind of thing that kept him from thinking about the past. There wasn't anything more depressing than knowing you would outlive everyone your life revolves around and there being nothing you can do about it.
Instead, he thought about that wink. Ianto was good at that. Did he know the distracting effect of them? Probably. Jack smiled to himself as he took another drink of coffee and went back to the report.