fic: New Beginnings
Title: New Beginnings
Author Name: angst_queen_98
Original Prompt Number: 79
Pairing(s): Jack/Ianto
Summary: Set post-Cyberwoman. It’s Christmas, and Jack feels Ianto shouldn’t be alone even though he’s still on suspension.
Rating: FRMAO
Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with these characters and I am making absolutely no profit from this work of fiction. This is done solely for the entertainment of other fans.
Warnings: May be a bit saccharine sweet….
Word Count: 8,328
Author's Notes: Well, damn… I got long-winded. I hope this is what the requestor was looking for! I’m still relatively new to TW fandom and feeling my way with my perception of the characters. I’m a die-hard romantic as will become apparent reading this. I like happy endings! My thanks to my cheerleader, K and my wonderful beta and plot-patcher, L. ♥ You guys rock!
“Jack, not that we don’t appreciate this… but are you sure?” Tosh asked, watching with a frown as Owen made haste out the cog door.
Gwen paused in the act of putting on her coat. Looking slightly guilty, she said, “If you needed one of us to stay-“
“Nonsense!” Jack waved their words aside. “It’s only a couple of days but it’s the best I can offer at the moment. Take it or leave it. If you’re not out of here within the next, oh say, thirty seconds I’m going to make both of you stay.” He grinned as both women made haste to the Hub exit.
Once they left, Jack let out a sigh of relief. He had somewhere important to go and he didn’t want the others around to question him on it. Hurrying down to his quarters, Jack opened the door that led to his personal storage area. He kept a small stash of liquor here; quality bottles, not the cheap whiskey and scotch he kept in his office.
Jack grinned with satisfaction as he pulled out a bottle of champagne. He’d won it in a bet from a sanctimonious UNIT section head and had never had any reason to open it.
Truthfully, he wasn’t sure he had reason now. Ianto’s month-long suspension in the wake of the disaster with the cyberwoman was now in its third week. They had talked a few times but those conversations were awkward and stilted. For all Jack knew, Ianto might not even let him in the door.
But it was Christmas Eve. And no matter what had happened, Ianto was still one of Jack’s team. His harsh words about no one asking him about his life had hit too close to home and Jack was not about to let that continue.
And the fact that you want to fuck him senseless has absolutely nothing to do with it.
Ignoring that little sneering voice, Jack pulled on his greatcoat, grabbed the SUV’s keys and exited the Hub.
~**~
Ianto frowned as he heard the unaccustomed sound of his door buzzer. He couldn’t fathom who it might be. It was too late for any sort of postal delivery, even if there was anyone alive to be sending him anything. None of his neighbors bothered with him; he wasn’t around often enough, and was too recent a tenant to be missed.
It was one of the reasons he had chosen this particular building. It was a secured building, relatively new and exclusive. His settlement from Canary Wharf had been more than adequate for him to purchase the comfortably sized flat.
He had hoped to bring Lisa here when she was healed and so had held off on decorating it, wanting her to have a say. For the first week after her death, the first week of his suspension from Torchwood Cardiff, he had drunk himself blind to avoid staring at the blank walls and unfurnished flat. At the end of that week he had decided that since Jack had given him a second chance, he needed to make the best of it.
The next several days had been spent in a flurry of cleaning, shopping and painting. Ianto was pleased with the end result. It wasn’t exactly as he wanted it just yet but it was getting there. It finally felt like home. Like his home. There was nothing of Lisa here except for a photo album he kept on a bookshelf in the living room, a box of her belongings that he’d been unable to part with, now tucked in the hallway closet and a photo of the two of them on the mantle over the fireplace.
Briefly he considered his visitor might be Lisa’s family but he just as quickly discounted that. They had severed ties immediately after Lisa’s “funeral” . Next Ianto wondered that it might be Gwen or Tosh but he had talked to both, as well as Jack, at various times during his suspension. He knew they were trying but he wasn’t naïve enough to think he had been forgiven yet. So no. Not likely one of them, on Christmas Eve.
The buzzer sounded again, giving him notice that whoever was there wasn’t going away. Pushing to his feet, Ianto headed to the door.
“Who’s there?” he called out.
“Ianto, it’s me… Jack,” the familiar voice called out.
Ianto’s heart raced. Jack? Here? That didn’t seem possible and yet he’d recognized the voice instantly.
He opened the door and ushered the other man inside.
“I wasn’t sure you’d let me in,” Jack admitted as he took off his coat.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Ianto shrugged. “I am surprised to see you, however.”
“It’s Christmas Eve. I wanted to stop by and wish you a happy Christmas. I figured you wouldn’t be home tomorrow,” the other man explained, handing over the bottle of champagne.
“Uh… thank you, sir. I appreciate that.” Ianto noted the expense of the bottle and raised an eyebrow.
“Go on, open it,” Jack urged. “We’ll toast to new beginnings.”
Ianto’s emotions were all over the place and to his horror, he found his hands were shaking.
“Sir, I, uh… I believe you should do the honors, sir,” he said, passing the bottle back to Jack.
“Sure.” If Jack noticed the shakiness he chose not to mention it. With his trademark grin in place, Harkness opened the bottle, yelping in surprise when it sprayed all down the front of him.
“Whoa!” Jack laughed, trying to stem the overflow. “Sorry about that.”
“No worries,” Ianto quickly assured, his nervousness disappearing. “Let’s get you cleaned up a bit.”
They headed into the kitchen where Ianto took the bottle from Jack’s hands before handing over a tea towel. Jack wiped his hands then used the towel to sop up some of the damage to his clothes. He grimaced at the stickiness.
“I’m afraid I’m giving you another challenge in stain removal, Ianto,” he said, sounding apologetic.
The younger man snorted. “Not hardly, sir. Do you have any idea how difficult Weevil spittle is to remove?”
“Uh… no,” the other man admitted, grimacing. “What a waste of half a bottle,” he said, still dabbing at his clothes.
Ianto set the bottle aside, more concerned with Jack’s comfort at this moment.
“Why don’t you use the bathroom and get cleaned up?” the younger man suggested. “I can loan you a track suit, and launder your clothes for you, if you’d like.”
“You don’t mind?” Jack asked. Then he waved his hand, negating his own question. “Of course you don’t. You wouldn’t have offered otherwise.”
Ianto’s answering smile was small but genuine. “You’re learning, sir.”
Jack couldn’t help giving a grin of his own as he left the room.
~**~
Ianto hunted through his bureau, muttering to himself the whole while. He knew he had at least one old tracksuit in here from Before. He heard the capitalization in his head and winced. Before would forever mean any time prior to the Battle of Canary Wharf. And After… that would of course refer to Lisa’s, no, the cyberwoman’s death at Torchwood Three. He had yet to think about what the intervening time should be. Perhaps because he heartily wished that it had never happened at all.
“Ah hah, here it is,” he murmured in satisfaction as he pulled the old suit from the drawer. He looked at it critically. It should fit Jack well enough, since Ianto had purchased the suit prior to the fall of Torchwood One when he had weighed a good deal more.
Taking the clothes across the hall to the bathroom, he knocked on the door.
“Jack? I have a track suit here you can wear,” he called out. “I’ll leave it-“
The door opened, and Jack stood naked except for his briefs. He seemed totally unconcerned with his state of undress as he passed over his soiled clothes in one hand, accepting Ianto’s offering with the other.
“Uh… right, I’ll just go take care of these,” Ianto said, hoping he wasn’t stammering like a bloody fool. He had seen Jack in all states of undress during his short time at Cardiff. Strictly for professional purposes of course.
“Okay if I take a quick shower?” Jack asked, pointing to his spiky hair. “Looks like I got more of a dousing than I realized.”
“Of course. Towels are in the wall cupboard. Help yourself.”
“Thanks.” Grinning broadly, Jack shut the door behind him.
~**~
Ianto shook his head as he headed for the closet where he kept his laundry supplies. He knew what a shameless flirt Jack Harkness could be. Yvonne had often disparaged the Torchwood Cardiff leader, stating he would make a move on anything that had a pulse.
Grabbing a small wicker clothes basket, Ianto dropped Jack’s soiled items into and grabbed his laundry detergent. Luckily, there was a laundry room on his floor and given that it was Christmas Eve he highly doubted there would be much competition for it.
He found it nearly empty as expected. After getting the load started, Ianto hurried back to his apartment. He didn’t want to leave Jack on his own for too long. God knows what the other man would get into.
~**~
Jack closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of the hot water on his skin. He inhaled deeply, his superior sense of smell easily picking up the unique combination of Ianto’s soap and shampoo. His cock stirred and Jack frowned.
Now was not the time to indulge such thoughts. Not when he was in Ianto’s home… his shower, for Christ’s sake! But then again, what better time, since in all likelihood it would be the closest he was going to get to having Ianto Jones.
Jack washed his hair, keeping his eyes closed as he imagined Ianto’s long fingers massaging the lather through his sticky hair. Letting the water rinse it away, Jack reached out for the soap and quickly lathered his body, again inhaling the scent. He wondered if this was something Ianto bought at a specialty shop. It didn’t smell quite like anything Jack recognized from other 21st century males.
As he reached his groin, Jack bit back a moan. It had been a long time since he had had any kind of release. Things had been busy lately, with training Gwen, and Ianto’s-- Ianto’s absence.
Bad form, Harkness, his conscience scolded as his hand closed around his already hard dick.
“Fuck it,” Jack growled, fisting his shaft in a way he knew would bring swift relief.
~**~
Ianto headed for his bedroom upon returning to his apartment. He might as well gather up the rest of his laundry and make a night of it. No telling when he might get the opportunity again, given Torchwood schedules.
Realizing the bathroom door was nearly open, Ianto recalled he hadn’t told Jack about that little quirk. No doubt as a result of routine settling, the door didn’t always latch properly and had a tendency to swing open of its own accord. He hadn’t bothered the landlord with the problem because it was something he could fix himself, merely hadn’t gotten around to it yet.
As he took a step inside he heard Jack’s muttered curse and then moments later, a gasp and groan that had an all too familiar feel to it. Peering cautiously around the door, Ianto saw Jack still stroking his cock, his head thrown back in abandon. It was one of the most erotic scenes Ianto had ever witnessed and he backed out of the room, quietly pulling the door shut behind him.
He could only hope Jack was distracted enough not to have heard his intrusion.
~**~
Jack heard the snick of the door as it clicked shut and blinked in amazement. He hadn’t heard Ianto enter, but clearly the man had been there for part of his… performance.
The Captain smirked. He hadn’t suspected Ianto of being a voyeur. Of course, there could be another explanation for it beyond his wishful thinking.
You can’t do it! his conscience screamed at him. And for once, he was forced to agree.
Ianto had just lost his girlfriend three weeks ago. Well, her body at least. Jack knew her mind was gone long before that, even if Ianto couldn’t accept that. And in spite of the younger man’s blatant flirting during his quest to join Torchwood, Jack hadn’t gotten any sense that he would pursue it once Ianto had actually started working for him.
Which was a damned shame, because Jack knew that under that buttoned-down exterior there had to be a passionate and responsive lover.
He quickly dried off and donned the track suit. While not a perfect fit, he was startled that it wasn’t as small as he had expected. It pained him to think that Ianto had lost so much weight.
Taking several calming breaths, Jack focused on getting his libido under control. There was no way he was going to spook Ianto. This visit was meant to reassure the man he still had a place in Torchwood, and that place wasn’t supposed to include an invitation to Captain Jack Harkness’ bed.
~**~
Ianto tried to ignore his aching cock, focusing instead on his original task of gathering together his laundry. It was much safer then allowing himself to think in any way shape or form of the man now occupying his bathroom.
But against his will, his thoughts kept drifting back to what he had seen. It reminded him of the night he’d first met Jack, while they were chasing the Weevil. He wasn’t naïve enough to have missed the spark of interest in the other man’s gaze. Harkness had looked him over from head to toe and clearly had liked what he had seen.
That had been even more apparent on the night they’d joined up to capture Myfanwy. It hadn’t interested him either time, except as a tool to get into Torchwood Three. But it hadn’t disgusted him either. Lisa’s brother David was gay and in a long-term relationship and the two couples had often gone on outings together.
Ianto had his own experiences with men, as well. While he didn’t think of himself as bi-sexual, the few times he’d been with men had been pleasurable. Just not nearly as satisfying as what he’d eventually found with Lisa.
The attention from Harkness flattered him. No one other than Lisa had ever looked at him with such intent and obvious interest. But could he act on it? Did he want to?
He scoffed at the idea that he would even get the chance to try. Jack Harkness might flirt with any and everything but as for actually following through on it? Ianto doubted that would happen, in his case especially.
Having completed the task of sorting laundry, Ianto headed for his kitchen. He was getting hungry and he was reasonably sure that Jack hadn’t eaten yet either.
~**~
Jack walked out into the hallway, hearing sounds from the kitchen. His stomach grumbled, reminding him that it had been hours since he had last eaten.
“Your clothes are in the wash,” Ianto said. “I’m about to make some dinner. You’re more than welcome to stay and join me, sir.”
“That’s very generous, but I don’t want to be a bother,” Jack responded. “I’m sure you have things you need to get ready for tomorrow’s festivities.”
Ianto kept his tone as neutral as possible when he answered, “No plans, sir. Just a quiet day at home. Rift permitting, naturally.”
“None?” Jack frowned. This wasn’t what he was expecting. The fact that it further highlighted how little he knew of Ianto’s life didn’t sit well either.
“Nope,” came the succinct reply. On a whim, Ianto asked, “What about you?”
“A quiet day at home. Rift permitting.” Jack smiled, sharing the irony.
“Right… so, dinner?” the younger man queried again. “It’s not much, but I have a frozen lasagna that will feed the two of us and an aging bottle of scotch for later.”
This time Jack didn’t hesitate. “Sounds good to me.”
~**~
Dinner was a more relaxed meal than Ianto could have anticipated. Jack was a charming and amusing guest, telling stories of aliens he had met, Ianto assumed, through the Rift.
Jack insisted on helping with the clearing up but he turned out to be more hindrance than assistance. Ianto finally chased him to the living room with instructions to find them something appropriate to watch.
Ianto brewed a pot of coffee, fixed two cups and headed for the living room where Jack was flipping through channels like a hyperactive child.
The other man inhaled appreciatively as Ianto drew near.
“Coffee… do I smell coffee?”
“You do, sir.” Ianto smirked as he handed a mug to his guest.
“Jack. It’s Jack. We’re off the clock now, right?”
A bit startled by the request, Ianto nodded. “Yes, si-- Jack.”
Harkness fought back a grin. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
The other man rolled his eyes. Bloody American ego.
Deciding he needed a diversion, Ianto said, “I’d best go switch your washing over to the dryer. I’m sure you’ll be more comfortable back in your own clothing.”
“I don’t know.” Jack ran a hand down his chest. “These feel pretty good on me.”
“Do you never stop?” Ianto snapped, exasperated. “Honestly, I think you’d flirt with a speck of dust if you thought it was sentient.”
He didn’t stop for Jack’s reply. He had a feeling he knew what it would be, anyway. The other man could no more stop flirting than a fish could breathe out of water. Angry at himself for losing control, Ianto just barely managed not to slam the door on his way out of the flat.
He half-expected the Captain to follow him but was relieved when there was no sign of that. Being around Jack Harkness made him unaccountably nervous.
Trying to block the irresistible Captain from his thoughts, Ianto quickly concentrated on transferring the laundry to the dryer. He focused on the fact that it was clothing, and not specifically Jack’s clothing. Jack bloody Harkness, who had been wanking off in his bathroom. And who was at this moment sitting on Ianto’s living room couch….
Shit. Not working, he scolded himself.
Switching the machine on, Ianto made note of the time and set the alarm on his watch. He was seriously tempted to just stay here and wait it out but he had no doubt that Harkness would seek him out, and god only knew what sort of trouble the other man would create along the way. Ianto really liked his flat and had no desire to move. No, heading back was the only choice.
~**~
Ianto steeled himself emotionally as he opened the door to his flat. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t the sight that greeted him.
Jack was sitting on the sofa, stocking feet resting on a throw pillow he’d considerately placed on Ianto’s coffee table. There was a tray of biscuits and cheese next to his feet and he held a glass of what appeared to be water in his hand.
The television was on and Ianto immediately recognized the movie as the 1951 black and white version of “A Christmas Carol”, starring Alastair Sim. It was a classic, and one of Ianto’s favorite holiday movies. It had scared him near senseless as a youngster and while he had long grown out of that, the movie still held a deep attraction for him.
Jack looked up, a moderately sheepish expression on his face. He pointed to the snacks.
“I hope you don’t mind that I raided your kitchen but a good movie always makes me hungry.” He smiled that mega-watt smile, obviously trying to charm Ianto.
“No, it’s fine,” the younger man assured. Toeing off his shoes, he slipped into a pair of old slippers and took a seat next to Jack, but not too close, on the settee.
They watched in almost companionable silence, one or the other making comments occasionally. As they got more and more involved in the tale, both paid less attention to their surroundings and so it was inevitable that at some point they would reach for a slice of cheese or biscuit at the same moment.
Ianto snatched his hand back as if scalded. At the same moment, the alarm on his watch beeped, alerting him that the drying should be done by now.
“I’ll… I, uh, I’d best go take care of that.” Ianto scrambled to his feet and rushed out of the flat, not bothering to take the time to change back into his shoes, even.
~**~
Jack laughed softly as he watched the other man’s hasty exit. This evening was certainly not going in any direction he had expected.
Though obviously still haunted by the events surrounding his girlfriend’s death, Ianto wasn’t wallowing in grief. That was encouraging to Jack. He told himself it was because he wanted to see the other man break out of his shell, live life to the fullest he could. But Jack was also self-aware enough to admit that he had an ulterior motive as well.
He wanted Ianto Jones. And he was beginning to suspect the younger man wasn’t totally adverse to that idea. But when it happened, Jack wanted to be sure that the ghost of Lisa Hallet wasn’t joining them in their bed. He had been with plenty of lovers where the sex had been merely release, and perhaps even comfort after a loss. He wasn’t disinclined to such an act. But that wasn’t what he wanted with Ianto and he’d never been one to settle for less when “more” might be attainable with some patience and self-restraint.
~**~
Ianto carefully folded each item of clothing before cleaning out the dryer’s lint trap and shutting the door. He tried to ignore the memory of the spark that had passed between him and Jack as they had both touched the snack tray.
Had he been imagining it?
He didn’t think so. A similar moment had happened with Lisa. But what the hell did it mean? Sure, Captain Jack Harkness would flirt with anything and anybody. But Ianto Jones was just the tea-boy. And lately, guilty of a treasonous act that had nearly brought down Torchwood Three and could have led to the downfall of the rest of humanity.
There was just no possible way that Harkness could be interested in him. Could there?
Trying to calm his racing heart, Ianto gathered up the clothing and walked slowly back to his flat.
~**~
This is insane. I shouldn't be afraid to enter my own flat! Just because Jack bloody Harkness is there. Waiting.
Ianto let himself in and locked the door behind him. He wasn't sure what he wanted to happen, but he did know that he was oddly reluctant at the thought of the Captain leaving.
Jack looked up at Ianto. The other man's expression was unreadable as usual.
“Ah, guess that's my cue to head out.” Jack got to his feet. “Thanks, Ianto. It's been a good evening.” He reached out for the small pile of clothes which the other man extended.
Ianto nearly gasped as their hands brushed in contact. He tried to pull back but Jack clamped his own hands together, effectively trapping Ianto. The calm expression on Harkness' face gave nothing away until one looked into his eyes. Jack's pupils were dilated, his nostrils flared, and Ianto would have to be totally inexperienced with sex not to recognize the signs.
Jack wanted him. Him.
It was a heady realization. And hard on the heels of it came the insight that Jack wouldn't actually do anything about it without permission from Ianto.
Realizing the moment was stretching on too long, Jack cleared his throat and eased up on Ianto's hands, allowing the younger man to pull away.
“Don't go, Jack,” Ianto quietly requested. His face flushed as he thought about how that could be taken.
“Ianto, I don't think--”
The younger man shook his head. “No, it's not about that. It's Christmas, Jack. And I think that you don't want to be alone any more than I.”
Jack nodded. It was true, but more to the point, he wanted to be here with Ianto. To his surprise he discovered that he’d take the younger man’s company even without the promise of sex.
This one could really hurt you, Harkness, he cautioned himself. But as usual he ignored the warning.
“So, if I’m staying and we’re not driving, didn’t you mention a bottle of Scotch earlier?” Jack grinned as Ianto’s eyes widened at the implied acceptance.
“Indeed I did.” With a smile, Ianto headed to the kitchen and pulled the bottle out of a cupboard. He handed it over to Jack for his inspection.
Jack whistled, impressed. “This is old. How’d you come across it?”
The other man shrugged. “My granddad gave it to my Tad as a wedding present. Tad was never much for Scotch so he passed it on to me. It was meant to celebrate my engagement to Lisa if she said yes, but…” He broke off, flushing.
“Ianto, I-“ Suddenly uncomfortable, Jack set the bottle aside.
“No, go on and open it. Please, Jack,” the younger man requested. “I’d rather not drink it on my own.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yep.” Ianto brought out two tumblers, setting them on the counter and watching as Jack opened the bottle.
Harkness poured a good measure into each glass, waiting for Ianto to claim one before taking the remaining tumbler.
“A toast,” the Captain suggested. “Even though I don’t believe in the religious overtones, to Christmas and the spirit of goodwill that it represents.”
They touched glasses, then Ianto spoke up.
“To Torchwood, charged with protecting humanity. And to those who will be absent this Christmas… their lives sacrificed for the cause.”
“Ianto…”
“It’s okay, Jack. Really. I’ve come to accept that Lisa, my Lisa, never made it out of Canary Wharf.” Ianto knocked back the rest of his scotch before holding it out for Jack to pour more.
Jack had to fight to hide his surprise. He had honestly never believed Ianto would make such an admission.
“I’m only sorry that my cowardice cost two others their lives. Not to mention placing everyone on this planet in jeopardy.” Ianto’s normally neutral expression had morphed to sharp regret.
“She must have been one hell of a woman,” Jack mused, watching his companion carefully. To his relief, Ianto merely nodded though his eyes were overly bright.
“She was.” The quiet statement said more than words could ever convey.
“Tell me about her,” the Captain urged. He knew how important it was to remember a lover and he wasn’t about to deny Ianto that right. Sometimes it was easier to talk to someone who didn’t know the deceased. Although given that he was partially responsible for Lisa’s death, he wasn’t at all sure that Ianto would want to.
“Not much to tell, really.” Ianto shrugged. “Not as if we were high school sweethearts. But if you really want to know, I’ll tell you. Only… I’d rather be sitting down. This Scotch is going to go to my head soon.”
“Good idea.”
They headed back to the living room, taking seats next to each other on the sofa. Jack refilled their glasses and they got comfortable. The television was still on as background noise, another version of “A Christmas Carol” playing.
After several long moments of watching in silence, Jack finally decided to broach the subject of Lisa once more. He wanted to know about this woman who had so captured Ianto’s heart and loyalty.
“I know you and Lisa met through Torchwood One but how did you come to start dating each other? Who made the first move?” Jack’s roguish grin indicated he didn’t think it was Ianto.
Ianto fought the instinct to roll his eyes, having a fair idea of the other man’s assumption.
“Actually, I asked her.” He smirked at the Captain’s startled look. “We were at one of the monthly social gatherings. Yvonne liked to pretend that she did it to get to know her staff better.”
“Obviously you don’t believe that,” Jack prompted.
The other man shook his head. “She was always on the lookout for her next pretty boy. And before you ask, no, I was never one of them.”
“Wouldn’t have thought of asking. It’s none of my business,” Harkness responded.
Ianto looked skeptical but didn’t pursue it.
“Lisa was there with some of her mates from Admin, and you couldn’t help but notice her.” Ianto took a deep swallow of scotch, trying hard not to let the memory pull him in too far. “One of my ex’s caught me eyeing her up and dared me to ask her out. I did, and the rest of if you pretty much know, or can guess.”
“So it was a dare?” Jack looked intrigued. He wasn’t about to touch the subject of “ex”. Finding out more about Lisa was his priority.
“Yep, and surprisingly she accepted immediately.” The younger man smiled reminiscently. “Seemed she had been watching me too.”
That didn’t surprise the Captain in the least. Ianto was easy on the eyes. Knock it off, he scolded his libido. Now is so definitely not the time!
Jack refilled both their glasses before taking a sip from his own. He swirled the tumbler lightly, seemingly fascinated by the liquid inside.
“What was she like?” he quietly asked, still unable to meet Ianto’s gaze. “Her personality, I mean.”
“Duw… she was amazing.” Ianto shook his head, not even sure where to begin. “She was outgoing and loved being around people. If there was anyone in the Tower she didn’t know, she at least knew someone who knew them. She was spontaneous and loved a good challenge. I guess that’s why she ended up with me.” His smile was genuine, though there was a ghost of sadness in his eyes.
“I thought you said she’d been watching you too?” Jack was confused now.
“She was. After we’d been going out for a while she told me that one of her goals was to get me to laugh at least once every hour we were together.” Ianto’s chuffle of laughter was somewhat watery but he continued, “Most of the time, she even managed it.”
“Sounds like she was one hell of a lady,” Harkness reflected. He raised his glass. “To Lisa. May she always be remembered with love, respect and admiration.”
“To Lisa.” Ianto emptied his glass then held it out for a refill. “Mind you, she wasn’t perfect… wasn’t always sweetness and light. She had a temper and when she lost it, you’d fear for your life.”
“Really.” Jack didn’t sound convinced.
“Yep. She once got so pissed off that I’d organized her side of the closet that she mixed one of my most expensive coffees with Tesco instant decaff. We didn’t speak for nearly three days.” He smiled slyly. “The make up sex was amazing, though.”
The Captain swore later on that Ianto had waited for him to take a sip of scotch when he’d said that. It burned its way up his nasal passages and back down his throat and he coughed until his eyes watered, choking on the laughter.
“I loved her so damned much, Jack,” Ianto whispered, his eyes bright. “And I miss her.”
Jack knew he had to choose his words carefully. This was about Ianto, and yet the other man needed to know he wasn’t alone in this; wasn’t the only one who had loved so deeply and lost so much.
Fortunately Ianto didn’t seem to require a response. Instead, he got to his feet and headed for the kitchen. He wasn’t sure what his intention was but he needed to move. Needed to be away from Jack and his incredible magnetism for a few minutes.
Popcorn, he finally decided. After all, they were still watching movies, and what was a movie night without popcorn? He rooted around in a closet until he found a box of microwave popcorn. Taking out a packet, he unwrapped it and placed it in the microwave.
A prickling of the hairs on his neck alerted him he was no longer alone and Ianto bit back a sigh. He should have known Jack would follow him. Taking a steadying breath, he turned to face Harkness.
“I-I’m sorry about that,” he said, forcing as much calm as possible into his words.
“Nothing to apologize for,” came the quick answer. “I’d be worried if you didn’t miss her, Ianto. If anything, I owe you the apology. I shouldn’t have asked. It’s too soon.”
Jack’s quiet voice and shadowed expression told Ianto far more than his words. He was willing to bet the other man knew more anyone could guess about loss.
The microwave timer pinged and Ianto removed the bag, shaking it to distribute the butter and salt. Pointing to a cupboard, he said, “Bowls are in there, mind getting two for me?”
Jack reached in and pulled them out, setting them on the counter near Ianto. He watched as the other man split the contents of the bag between the bowls, then took the one closest to him.
“I was well out of line that night,” Ianto murmured. At Jack’s questioning look, he clarified, “Calling you a monster. Accusing you of never having loved anyone.”
The words had struck deep at the time, but even then Jack knew they were fueled by rage, pain and grief. Ianto had said the first things he could think of that could hurt, unerringly getting it more right than even he could know. Still, Jack had found he couldn’t hold a grudge against the other man.
“Sometimes I think I’m the worst monster in this universe,” the Captain admitted. “But I do know what it’s like to have loved and lost, Ianto. The risk is worth it, with the right person.”
What the fuck was he saying? The right person… Jack mentally cursed himself. Ianto had considered Lisa his ‘right’ person, and now she was dead.
“I believe it will be a long time before I venture down that particular path again, sir.” Ianto’s stilted, formal voice did nothing to hide his turmoil.
Rather than make another useless apology, Jack nodded toward the living room.
“C’mon, there’s a bottle of scotch in there waiting for us, as well as the end of that movie. How does it all work out in the end?” He grinned at Ianto’s eye-roll. Some things could be timed precisely.
~**~
They sat together on the sofa and watched the movie in companionable silence. Reaching into his bowl for some more popcorn, Jack realized there was barely any left. Fighting back a grin, he realized that Ianto had obviously not been satisfied with just the one bowl.
Ianto could feel Jack’s stare and he couldn’t help flushing. The popcorn had tasted so good and Jack hadn’t seemed to be all that keen on it. Ianto honestly hadn’t thought the other man would miss it.
“I, um-- There’s more in the kitchen if you’d like,” he finally offered.
“No, it’s fine, really.” Jack grinned.
Both men focused again on the movie and it was less than half an hour later when Jack felt Ianto’s weight shift against him. He turned his head just slightly to see that the younger man had apparently fallen fast asleep against him.
Jack found himself strangely reluctant to move. He decided to finish out the movie before deciding what to do. There wasn’t much run time left, he knew.
Once it had finished, Jack picked up the remote and lowered the volume. His instinct was to shut it off entirely but he thought the sudden absence of sound might wake Ianto. And since the other man was so clearly in need of sleep, Jack had no desire to test it.
Next, he carefully slipped out from where Ianto was leaning against him. He supported the other man, guiding him gently down to lay on the sofa. Jack easily removed Ianto’s slippers and then covered him with the blanket laying over the back of the sofa.
Heading out to the kitchen, Jack found a glass and filled it with water, then searched the cupboards, sighing with relief when he found an over the counter pain reliever. Ianto was probably going to have one hell of a headache come morning. He set both on the coffee table within reach of Ianto’s head.
Satisfied he had done what he could to ensure Ianto’s comfort, Jack turned off the light and took a seat in the recliner across from the sofa. From here he could watch and make sure his charge got some undisturbed rest.
~**~
Ianto woke with a start, at first unsure where he was. It certainly wasn’t his bed. And it wasn’t a hospital, which was a relief. Blinking fuzzily, he realized he was in his living room on the sofa. And in that same instant, he realized he wasn’t alone.
He sat up suddenly, biting back a groan at the headache that exploded behind his eyes. In the dim light coming in from outside, Ianto saw the glass of water and the pain reliever and made a mental note to thank Jack come morning. He downed three tablets and drank the entire glass of water before he remembered.
He’d woken because he wasn’t alone. Jack, of course. And then he picked out the other man’s outline in the recliner. From the way Jack’s head was tilted to the side and the fact that he hadn’t said a word or moved, Ianto figured he had to be asleep. It looked bloody uncomfortable. Nearly as uncomfortable as the sofa.
“Jack,” he called softly, not wanting to startle the other man. He had seen enough of Jack’s fighting skills to guess this was not a man you wanted to surprise. “Jack, wake up. Time for bed.”
The other many groaned as he stirred. “What time’s it?”
“Going on two a.m. C’mon, I have some place more comfortable for you to sleep.”
Jack shook his head, trying to fight free of the mental cobwebs. “You woke me up just so I could go back to sleep?”
Ianto flushed, glad the darkness hid it. “Um, yeah… guess that would be one way of looking at it. I didn’t think you’d want to stay in that bloody chair all night, sir. Bed’s decently sized even for two adult men.”
That brought Jack fully awake.
“Bed? Ianto, are you propositioning me?” he asked, drowsiness robbing him of his normal sly innuendo.
“An invitation for sleep only, Jack.” Ianto paused a moment, then said, “But if you’re more comfortable out here… or perhaps it’s that you don’t trust yourself-“
“What?” That brought Jack to his feet. “I’ll have you know I can be a perfect gentleman. Lead the way and I’ll prove it.”
~**~
It had been a long time since Ianto had shared his bed with anyone. He had a hard time relaxing at first, but Jack kept his back to him and within minutes of settling, his breathing evened out, indicating sleep.
Ianto wondered what it would be like to share a bed with Jack Harkness for real. He swallowed the groan that the image produced. He’d enjoy it, he was sure of that much. Luckily the alcohol remaining in his system kept his body from reacting.
So fucked up, he thought, even as his eyes drifted closed.
Falling for one’s boss was bad enough. But the fact that the very same man was partially responsible for the death of his girlfriend, or well, her body at least….
Fuck. It was enough to give a man a headache.
~**~
Jack woke the next morning to an empty, unfamiliar bed. That it was unfamiliar wasn’t a surprise; he’d had more than his fair share of anonymous sex, both before and since becoming immortal.
It was the emptiness that surprised him. Usually he left his lovers sated and… Wait a minute. There’d been no sex last night. How was that possible?
Because you’re at Ianto’s place, not some nameless fuck.
Oh… yeah.
Sitting up and swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Jack noticed the robe placed carefully on the arm chair nearby. Assuming that Ianto had left it for him, he shrugged into it, belted it and went in search of his host.
He found the younger man in the kitchen, running water for a pot of coffee. At least that was what Jack was hoping for.
“Happy Christmas,” Ianto greeted with a small but genuine smile. “Hope you slept well?”
“Happy Christmas to you too. And yes, better than I have in a long time,” Jack admitted. It was no lie. Given that some nights he didn’t sleep at all, last night had been worth about a week’s worth of sleep.
“Coffee will be ready soon. Fancy some breakfast?” Opening up the fridge, Ianto said, “I’ve got eggs, bacon, milk, could even do up waffles, if you care for some.”
They settled on bacon, eggs and toast, with Jack helping. It felt oddly domestic and comfortable.
Out of curiosity, Jack checked the time, surprised to see that it was barely 0700. Not so surprising for himself, really.
As they sat down at the small table, Jack voiced his surprise.
Ianto shrugged, somewhat embarrassed. “Never been really good at holding my liquor. And… I don’t usually get much sleep overall.”
Jack nodded. He didn’t need Ianto to spell it out. He could guess that the other man suffered from pretty horrific nightmares, between Canary Wharf and Lisa.
They ate in silence for several minutes, both savoring the luxury of a home cooked meal. Once they’d finished the meal and started cleanup, Ianto broke the easy quiet.
“I-Thank you for last night, Jack. Letting me talk about Lisa, I mean. And the company.”
“She should always be remembered like that, Ianto,” Jack quietly responded. “Not the way you last saw her. That wasn’t Lisa. Ever.”
Ianto nodded.
Knowing the other man wouldn’t want to dwell on the subject, Jack gave one of his sly grins and added, “Besides, just wait until you really have a morning after to thank me for!”
Without batting an eye or changing expression, Ianto calmly asked, “And when exactly will that be, sir?”
A shiver chased down Jack’s spine at the low, almost seductive tone. Could it really be that Ianto wanted this, too? Wanted him? Because he wasn’t prepared to be a substitute for Lisa. He did not want to be just a mindless fuck to Ianto, that much he knew for certain.
“I think that’s your call,” the Captain finally answered, his expression uncharacteristically serious, given the topic was sex. “It hasn’t been that long since Lisa, and-“
“Lisa’s dead, Jack. And really? She was dead at Canary Wharf… it’s just that her body didn’t know that. And I couldn’t admit it. Still have trouble some times.” Ianto met Jack’s gaze squarely. “But you aren’t the only one who has been looking, Jack. I know what I want.”
To prove his point, Ianto closed the distance between them, still holding Jack’s gaze. The other man didn’t move, even as Ianto entered his personal space and kissed him. It was hot and demanding and when they separated, both were panting slightly.
Jack rested his hands on Ianto’s hips, and leaned his head forward to capture another kiss. This one was gentler yet no less intense.
Ianto untied the belt to Jack’s robe, pushing it off the broad shoulders. Taking the hint, Jack released his hold on Ianto’s hips, letting the garment drop to the floor. He wrapped his arms around the other man, pulling him close and grinding their hips together. His burgeoning erection was met with an equal hardness and Ianto groaned as desire swept through him.
“God, I want you, Jack,” he whispered, reaching between them and cupping the impressive bulge.
“Bedroom,” Jack murmured, fighting the urge to thrust into that teasing hand. He didn’t want their first time to be a quick hand job in the kitchen.
Both men managed to shed their clothing along the way. On the one level still capable of rational thought, Jack found it endearing that Ianto could allow his passion to overrule his seemingly innate sense of neatness.
And then Ianto was maneuvering them onto the bed, and all thought fled.
~**~
Ianto knew what he wanted to do with Jack but he didn’t want the other man to suspect just yet, so he started slow, mapping the well-muscled body with his tongue and fingers. To his delight, Jack was an extremely vocal and tactile lover, his hands sometimes covering and guiding Ianto’s while his voice murmured encouragement.
Despite Jack’s pleas, and his demanding hands, Ianto had so far avoided Jack’s groin and the almost painfully erect cock, weeping pre-cum. It wasn’t that he wasn’t comfortable with the thought. Far from it. But he wanted control, this first time. He wanted Jack to know that he was fully aware of what he was doing, and to whom.
“Fuck, Ianto,” the other man gasped, his back arching as he sought relief for his aching hard-on. “You’re killing me!”
“Soon, Jack,” Ianto soothed. “Look at me. Jack. Look at me.”
The commanding voice from the normally deferential archivist cut through the haze of desire and caught Jack’s attention. He opened his eyes and nearly came just at the sight of Ianto about to go down on him.
“Oh god…. Fuck, I’m not going to last, Ianto,” he gasped, hips bucking up as he was enveloped in wet heat. As Ianto sucked and licked, hitting all the right spots, Jack realized the other man was no novice at this. The thought soon shorted out when Ianto lightly grasped his balls, squeezing just enough that Jack came with a yell.
Ianto carefully released his lover, looking up to gauge the other man’s reaction. He was surprised at the tender expression on Jack’s face and he swallowed hard. What he wouldn’t do to see that look repeated.
Jack urged Ianto up into his arms, kissing him thoroughly. He had certainly not expected to be given such an intense orgasm this first time.
“Well, you certainly are full of surprises, Jones Ianto Jones,” he murmured, stealing another kiss.
The other man chuffed out a laugh, remembering their first meeting and how he’d stumbled over his own name.
Jack was aware of his partner’s neglected erection digging at his hip. Kissing a path along Ianto’s jaw, he laved his ear, laughing at the shiver it caused.
“What would you like to do?” he whispered.
“Can I-“ Ianto broke off, his earlier self-confidence seemingly deserting him.
Understanding the sudden shyness, Jack murmured, “Show me?”
Ianto straddled Jack, gasping as his sensitive cock made contact with the other man’s stomach. He knew it wouldn’t take much, he’d almost come when Jack had. He began rocking, swearing as the friction built between them.
Jack caught on and shifted, wrapping his arms around the lean frame to increase the pressure. It wasn’t long before Ianto’s thrusts grew erratic and less controlled.
“Duw! Oh fuck!” Ianto yelled as he came.
He collapsed bonelessly next to Jack, panting as if he’d run a race. Jack kissed his temple then slid from the bed.
“Where’re you going?” Ianto asked, hating that he felt he had to ask. Jack owed him no explanations.
But if the other man resented the question, it didn’t show when he leaned down and kissed Ianto again.
“We’ll both be more comfortable if we clean up a bit. I’ll be right back.”
Ianto dozed, but woke more fully when he felt the bed shift and a warm, wet cloth gently caressing his genitals.
“Mmmmm,” he murmured. “Feels good.”
“You’re not ready for another round yet, are you?” Jack wondered, unsure if he was up to that himself even.
“Nah… soon maybe.” Ianto opened his eyes and grinned with devilish glee.
“And they say I’m sex-obsessed,” the other man quipped. Tossing the cloth to land in a pile of their discarded clothes, Jack settled back down in the bed, pleased when Ianto rolled over to cuddle close without prompting.
He loved this almost as much as the sex act itself. The simple act of comfort given and taken, of knowing one wasn’t alone, was powerful.
“Happy Christmas, Jack,” Ianto whispered, leaning up for a kiss.
Jack deepened the kiss, tangling his hand in the short hair and cradling Ianto’s head to keep him close.
“So… got anything special you’d like to do today?” he wondered, drawing random patterns over Ianto’s torso. The silence stretched out long enough that he had begun to think the other man had fallen asleep on him.
Then Ianto shifted, wrapping an arm over Jack’s chest.
“Not when I first woke up,” he finally responded drowsily. “But now? I think I’d like to stay in bed all day. With you.”
Jack’s heart skipped a beat, then began racing. When he knew he could speak normally, he said, “I like that plan.”
Ianto murmured contentedly and between one breath and the next had drifted off. Jack knew he himself wouldn’t sleep but he was more than happy to lay here, holding his lover.
Lover. It had been a long time since he had let himself think of anyone in that context. But against all odds, Ianto Jones had slipped under his defenses and claimed the title. It meant all sorts of complications, both on the job and off, but Jack had a feeling that this young man was more than worth it.
Author Name: angst_queen_98
Original Prompt Number: 79
Pairing(s): Jack/Ianto
Summary: Set post-Cyberwoman. It’s Christmas, and Jack feels Ianto shouldn’t be alone even though he’s still on suspension.
Rating: FRMAO
Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with these characters and I am making absolutely no profit from this work of fiction. This is done solely for the entertainment of other fans.
Warnings: May be a bit saccharine sweet….
Word Count: 8,328
Author's Notes: Well, damn… I got long-winded. I hope this is what the requestor was looking for! I’m still relatively new to TW fandom and feeling my way with my perception of the characters. I’m a die-hard romantic as will become apparent reading this. I like happy endings! My thanks to my cheerleader, K and my wonderful beta and plot-patcher, L. ♥ You guys rock!
“Jack, not that we don’t appreciate this… but are you sure?” Tosh asked, watching with a frown as Owen made haste out the cog door.
Gwen paused in the act of putting on her coat. Looking slightly guilty, she said, “If you needed one of us to stay-“
“Nonsense!” Jack waved their words aside. “It’s only a couple of days but it’s the best I can offer at the moment. Take it or leave it. If you’re not out of here within the next, oh say, thirty seconds I’m going to make both of you stay.” He grinned as both women made haste to the Hub exit.
Once they left, Jack let out a sigh of relief. He had somewhere important to go and he didn’t want the others around to question him on it. Hurrying down to his quarters, Jack opened the door that led to his personal storage area. He kept a small stash of liquor here; quality bottles, not the cheap whiskey and scotch he kept in his office.
Jack grinned with satisfaction as he pulled out a bottle of champagne. He’d won it in a bet from a sanctimonious UNIT section head and had never had any reason to open it.
Truthfully, he wasn’t sure he had reason now. Ianto’s month-long suspension in the wake of the disaster with the cyberwoman was now in its third week. They had talked a few times but those conversations were awkward and stilted. For all Jack knew, Ianto might not even let him in the door.
But it was Christmas Eve. And no matter what had happened, Ianto was still one of Jack’s team. His harsh words about no one asking him about his life had hit too close to home and Jack was not about to let that continue.
And the fact that you want to fuck him senseless has absolutely nothing to do with it.
Ignoring that little sneering voice, Jack pulled on his greatcoat, grabbed the SUV’s keys and exited the Hub.
~**~
Ianto frowned as he heard the unaccustomed sound of his door buzzer. He couldn’t fathom who it might be. It was too late for any sort of postal delivery, even if there was anyone alive to be sending him anything. None of his neighbors bothered with him; he wasn’t around often enough, and was too recent a tenant to be missed.
It was one of the reasons he had chosen this particular building. It was a secured building, relatively new and exclusive. His settlement from Canary Wharf had been more than adequate for him to purchase the comfortably sized flat.
He had hoped to bring Lisa here when she was healed and so had held off on decorating it, wanting her to have a say. For the first week after her death, the first week of his suspension from Torchwood Cardiff, he had drunk himself blind to avoid staring at the blank walls and unfurnished flat. At the end of that week he had decided that since Jack had given him a second chance, he needed to make the best of it.
The next several days had been spent in a flurry of cleaning, shopping and painting. Ianto was pleased with the end result. It wasn’t exactly as he wanted it just yet but it was getting there. It finally felt like home. Like his home. There was nothing of Lisa here except for a photo album he kept on a bookshelf in the living room, a box of her belongings that he’d been unable to part with, now tucked in the hallway closet and a photo of the two of them on the mantle over the fireplace.
Briefly he considered his visitor might be Lisa’s family but he just as quickly discounted that. They had severed ties immediately after Lisa’s “funeral” . Next Ianto wondered that it might be Gwen or Tosh but he had talked to both, as well as Jack, at various times during his suspension. He knew they were trying but he wasn’t naïve enough to think he had been forgiven yet. So no. Not likely one of them, on Christmas Eve.
The buzzer sounded again, giving him notice that whoever was there wasn’t going away. Pushing to his feet, Ianto headed to the door.
“Who’s there?” he called out.
“Ianto, it’s me… Jack,” the familiar voice called out.
Ianto’s heart raced. Jack? Here? That didn’t seem possible and yet he’d recognized the voice instantly.
He opened the door and ushered the other man inside.
“I wasn’t sure you’d let me in,” Jack admitted as he took off his coat.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Ianto shrugged. “I am surprised to see you, however.”
“It’s Christmas Eve. I wanted to stop by and wish you a happy Christmas. I figured you wouldn’t be home tomorrow,” the other man explained, handing over the bottle of champagne.
“Uh… thank you, sir. I appreciate that.” Ianto noted the expense of the bottle and raised an eyebrow.
“Go on, open it,” Jack urged. “We’ll toast to new beginnings.”
Ianto’s emotions were all over the place and to his horror, he found his hands were shaking.
“Sir, I, uh… I believe you should do the honors, sir,” he said, passing the bottle back to Jack.
“Sure.” If Jack noticed the shakiness he chose not to mention it. With his trademark grin in place, Harkness opened the bottle, yelping in surprise when it sprayed all down the front of him.
“Whoa!” Jack laughed, trying to stem the overflow. “Sorry about that.”
“No worries,” Ianto quickly assured, his nervousness disappearing. “Let’s get you cleaned up a bit.”
They headed into the kitchen where Ianto took the bottle from Jack’s hands before handing over a tea towel. Jack wiped his hands then used the towel to sop up some of the damage to his clothes. He grimaced at the stickiness.
“I’m afraid I’m giving you another challenge in stain removal, Ianto,” he said, sounding apologetic.
The younger man snorted. “Not hardly, sir. Do you have any idea how difficult Weevil spittle is to remove?”
“Uh… no,” the other man admitted, grimacing. “What a waste of half a bottle,” he said, still dabbing at his clothes.
Ianto set the bottle aside, more concerned with Jack’s comfort at this moment.
“Why don’t you use the bathroom and get cleaned up?” the younger man suggested. “I can loan you a track suit, and launder your clothes for you, if you’d like.”
“You don’t mind?” Jack asked. Then he waved his hand, negating his own question. “Of course you don’t. You wouldn’t have offered otherwise.”
Ianto’s answering smile was small but genuine. “You’re learning, sir.”
Jack couldn’t help giving a grin of his own as he left the room.
~**~
Ianto hunted through his bureau, muttering to himself the whole while. He knew he had at least one old tracksuit in here from Before. He heard the capitalization in his head and winced. Before would forever mean any time prior to the Battle of Canary Wharf. And After… that would of course refer to Lisa’s, no, the cyberwoman’s death at Torchwood Three. He had yet to think about what the intervening time should be. Perhaps because he heartily wished that it had never happened at all.
“Ah hah, here it is,” he murmured in satisfaction as he pulled the old suit from the drawer. He looked at it critically. It should fit Jack well enough, since Ianto had purchased the suit prior to the fall of Torchwood One when he had weighed a good deal more.
Taking the clothes across the hall to the bathroom, he knocked on the door.
“Jack? I have a track suit here you can wear,” he called out. “I’ll leave it-“
The door opened, and Jack stood naked except for his briefs. He seemed totally unconcerned with his state of undress as he passed over his soiled clothes in one hand, accepting Ianto’s offering with the other.
“Uh… right, I’ll just go take care of these,” Ianto said, hoping he wasn’t stammering like a bloody fool. He had seen Jack in all states of undress during his short time at Cardiff. Strictly for professional purposes of course.
“Okay if I take a quick shower?” Jack asked, pointing to his spiky hair. “Looks like I got more of a dousing than I realized.”
“Of course. Towels are in the wall cupboard. Help yourself.”
“Thanks.” Grinning broadly, Jack shut the door behind him.
~**~
Ianto shook his head as he headed for the closet where he kept his laundry supplies. He knew what a shameless flirt Jack Harkness could be. Yvonne had often disparaged the Torchwood Cardiff leader, stating he would make a move on anything that had a pulse.
Grabbing a small wicker clothes basket, Ianto dropped Jack’s soiled items into and grabbed his laundry detergent. Luckily, there was a laundry room on his floor and given that it was Christmas Eve he highly doubted there would be much competition for it.
He found it nearly empty as expected. After getting the load started, Ianto hurried back to his apartment. He didn’t want to leave Jack on his own for too long. God knows what the other man would get into.
~**~
Jack closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of the hot water on his skin. He inhaled deeply, his superior sense of smell easily picking up the unique combination of Ianto’s soap and shampoo. His cock stirred and Jack frowned.
Now was not the time to indulge such thoughts. Not when he was in Ianto’s home… his shower, for Christ’s sake! But then again, what better time, since in all likelihood it would be the closest he was going to get to having Ianto Jones.
Jack washed his hair, keeping his eyes closed as he imagined Ianto’s long fingers massaging the lather through his sticky hair. Letting the water rinse it away, Jack reached out for the soap and quickly lathered his body, again inhaling the scent. He wondered if this was something Ianto bought at a specialty shop. It didn’t smell quite like anything Jack recognized from other 21st century males.
As he reached his groin, Jack bit back a moan. It had been a long time since he had had any kind of release. Things had been busy lately, with training Gwen, and Ianto’s-- Ianto’s absence.
Bad form, Harkness, his conscience scolded as his hand closed around his already hard dick.
“Fuck it,” Jack growled, fisting his shaft in a way he knew would bring swift relief.
~**~
Ianto headed for his bedroom upon returning to his apartment. He might as well gather up the rest of his laundry and make a night of it. No telling when he might get the opportunity again, given Torchwood schedules.
Realizing the bathroom door was nearly open, Ianto recalled he hadn’t told Jack about that little quirk. No doubt as a result of routine settling, the door didn’t always latch properly and had a tendency to swing open of its own accord. He hadn’t bothered the landlord with the problem because it was something he could fix himself, merely hadn’t gotten around to it yet.
As he took a step inside he heard Jack’s muttered curse and then moments later, a gasp and groan that had an all too familiar feel to it. Peering cautiously around the door, Ianto saw Jack still stroking his cock, his head thrown back in abandon. It was one of the most erotic scenes Ianto had ever witnessed and he backed out of the room, quietly pulling the door shut behind him.
He could only hope Jack was distracted enough not to have heard his intrusion.
~**~
Jack heard the snick of the door as it clicked shut and blinked in amazement. He hadn’t heard Ianto enter, but clearly the man had been there for part of his… performance.
The Captain smirked. He hadn’t suspected Ianto of being a voyeur. Of course, there could be another explanation for it beyond his wishful thinking.
You can’t do it! his conscience screamed at him. And for once, he was forced to agree.
Ianto had just lost his girlfriend three weeks ago. Well, her body at least. Jack knew her mind was gone long before that, even if Ianto couldn’t accept that. And in spite of the younger man’s blatant flirting during his quest to join Torchwood, Jack hadn’t gotten any sense that he would pursue it once Ianto had actually started working for him.
Which was a damned shame, because Jack knew that under that buttoned-down exterior there had to be a passionate and responsive lover.
He quickly dried off and donned the track suit. While not a perfect fit, he was startled that it wasn’t as small as he had expected. It pained him to think that Ianto had lost so much weight.
Taking several calming breaths, Jack focused on getting his libido under control. There was no way he was going to spook Ianto. This visit was meant to reassure the man he still had a place in Torchwood, and that place wasn’t supposed to include an invitation to Captain Jack Harkness’ bed.
~**~
Ianto tried to ignore his aching cock, focusing instead on his original task of gathering together his laundry. It was much safer then allowing himself to think in any way shape or form of the man now occupying his bathroom.
But against his will, his thoughts kept drifting back to what he had seen. It reminded him of the night he’d first met Jack, while they were chasing the Weevil. He wasn’t naïve enough to have missed the spark of interest in the other man’s gaze. Harkness had looked him over from head to toe and clearly had liked what he had seen.
That had been even more apparent on the night they’d joined up to capture Myfanwy. It hadn’t interested him either time, except as a tool to get into Torchwood Three. But it hadn’t disgusted him either. Lisa’s brother David was gay and in a long-term relationship and the two couples had often gone on outings together.
Ianto had his own experiences with men, as well. While he didn’t think of himself as bi-sexual, the few times he’d been with men had been pleasurable. Just not nearly as satisfying as what he’d eventually found with Lisa.
The attention from Harkness flattered him. No one other than Lisa had ever looked at him with such intent and obvious interest. But could he act on it? Did he want to?
He scoffed at the idea that he would even get the chance to try. Jack Harkness might flirt with any and everything but as for actually following through on it? Ianto doubted that would happen, in his case especially.
Having completed the task of sorting laundry, Ianto headed for his kitchen. He was getting hungry and he was reasonably sure that Jack hadn’t eaten yet either.
~**~
Jack walked out into the hallway, hearing sounds from the kitchen. His stomach grumbled, reminding him that it had been hours since he had last eaten.
“Your clothes are in the wash,” Ianto said. “I’m about to make some dinner. You’re more than welcome to stay and join me, sir.”
“That’s very generous, but I don’t want to be a bother,” Jack responded. “I’m sure you have things you need to get ready for tomorrow’s festivities.”
Ianto kept his tone as neutral as possible when he answered, “No plans, sir. Just a quiet day at home. Rift permitting, naturally.”
“None?” Jack frowned. This wasn’t what he was expecting. The fact that it further highlighted how little he knew of Ianto’s life didn’t sit well either.
“Nope,” came the succinct reply. On a whim, Ianto asked, “What about you?”
“A quiet day at home. Rift permitting.” Jack smiled, sharing the irony.
“Right… so, dinner?” the younger man queried again. “It’s not much, but I have a frozen lasagna that will feed the two of us and an aging bottle of scotch for later.”
This time Jack didn’t hesitate. “Sounds good to me.”
~**~
Dinner was a more relaxed meal than Ianto could have anticipated. Jack was a charming and amusing guest, telling stories of aliens he had met, Ianto assumed, through the Rift.
Jack insisted on helping with the clearing up but he turned out to be more hindrance than assistance. Ianto finally chased him to the living room with instructions to find them something appropriate to watch.
Ianto brewed a pot of coffee, fixed two cups and headed for the living room where Jack was flipping through channels like a hyperactive child.
The other man inhaled appreciatively as Ianto drew near.
“Coffee… do I smell coffee?”
“You do, sir.” Ianto smirked as he handed a mug to his guest.
“Jack. It’s Jack. We’re off the clock now, right?”
A bit startled by the request, Ianto nodded. “Yes, si-- Jack.”
Harkness fought back a grin. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
The other man rolled his eyes. Bloody American ego.
Deciding he needed a diversion, Ianto said, “I’d best go switch your washing over to the dryer. I’m sure you’ll be more comfortable back in your own clothing.”
“I don’t know.” Jack ran a hand down his chest. “These feel pretty good on me.”
“Do you never stop?” Ianto snapped, exasperated. “Honestly, I think you’d flirt with a speck of dust if you thought it was sentient.”
He didn’t stop for Jack’s reply. He had a feeling he knew what it would be, anyway. The other man could no more stop flirting than a fish could breathe out of water. Angry at himself for losing control, Ianto just barely managed not to slam the door on his way out of the flat.
He half-expected the Captain to follow him but was relieved when there was no sign of that. Being around Jack Harkness made him unaccountably nervous.
Trying to block the irresistible Captain from his thoughts, Ianto quickly concentrated on transferring the laundry to the dryer. He focused on the fact that it was clothing, and not specifically Jack’s clothing. Jack bloody Harkness, who had been wanking off in his bathroom. And who was at this moment sitting on Ianto’s living room couch….
Shit. Not working, he scolded himself.
Switching the machine on, Ianto made note of the time and set the alarm on his watch. He was seriously tempted to just stay here and wait it out but he had no doubt that Harkness would seek him out, and god only knew what sort of trouble the other man would create along the way. Ianto really liked his flat and had no desire to move. No, heading back was the only choice.
~**~
Ianto steeled himself emotionally as he opened the door to his flat. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t the sight that greeted him.
Jack was sitting on the sofa, stocking feet resting on a throw pillow he’d considerately placed on Ianto’s coffee table. There was a tray of biscuits and cheese next to his feet and he held a glass of what appeared to be water in his hand.
The television was on and Ianto immediately recognized the movie as the 1951 black and white version of “A Christmas Carol”, starring Alastair Sim. It was a classic, and one of Ianto’s favorite holiday movies. It had scared him near senseless as a youngster and while he had long grown out of that, the movie still held a deep attraction for him.
Jack looked up, a moderately sheepish expression on his face. He pointed to the snacks.
“I hope you don’t mind that I raided your kitchen but a good movie always makes me hungry.” He smiled that mega-watt smile, obviously trying to charm Ianto.
“No, it’s fine,” the younger man assured. Toeing off his shoes, he slipped into a pair of old slippers and took a seat next to Jack, but not too close, on the settee.
They watched in almost companionable silence, one or the other making comments occasionally. As they got more and more involved in the tale, both paid less attention to their surroundings and so it was inevitable that at some point they would reach for a slice of cheese or biscuit at the same moment.
Ianto snatched his hand back as if scalded. At the same moment, the alarm on his watch beeped, alerting him that the drying should be done by now.
“I’ll… I, uh, I’d best go take care of that.” Ianto scrambled to his feet and rushed out of the flat, not bothering to take the time to change back into his shoes, even.
~**~
Jack laughed softly as he watched the other man’s hasty exit. This evening was certainly not going in any direction he had expected.
Though obviously still haunted by the events surrounding his girlfriend’s death, Ianto wasn’t wallowing in grief. That was encouraging to Jack. He told himself it was because he wanted to see the other man break out of his shell, live life to the fullest he could. But Jack was also self-aware enough to admit that he had an ulterior motive as well.
He wanted Ianto Jones. And he was beginning to suspect the younger man wasn’t totally adverse to that idea. But when it happened, Jack wanted to be sure that the ghost of Lisa Hallet wasn’t joining them in their bed. He had been with plenty of lovers where the sex had been merely release, and perhaps even comfort after a loss. He wasn’t disinclined to such an act. But that wasn’t what he wanted with Ianto and he’d never been one to settle for less when “more” might be attainable with some patience and self-restraint.
~**~
Ianto carefully folded each item of clothing before cleaning out the dryer’s lint trap and shutting the door. He tried to ignore the memory of the spark that had passed between him and Jack as they had both touched the snack tray.
Had he been imagining it?
He didn’t think so. A similar moment had happened with Lisa. But what the hell did it mean? Sure, Captain Jack Harkness would flirt with anything and anybody. But Ianto Jones was just the tea-boy. And lately, guilty of a treasonous act that had nearly brought down Torchwood Three and could have led to the downfall of the rest of humanity.
There was just no possible way that Harkness could be interested in him. Could there?
Trying to calm his racing heart, Ianto gathered up the clothing and walked slowly back to his flat.
~**~
This is insane. I shouldn't be afraid to enter my own flat! Just because Jack bloody Harkness is there. Waiting.
Ianto let himself in and locked the door behind him. He wasn't sure what he wanted to happen, but he did know that he was oddly reluctant at the thought of the Captain leaving.
Jack looked up at Ianto. The other man's expression was unreadable as usual.
“Ah, guess that's my cue to head out.” Jack got to his feet. “Thanks, Ianto. It's been a good evening.” He reached out for the small pile of clothes which the other man extended.
Ianto nearly gasped as their hands brushed in contact. He tried to pull back but Jack clamped his own hands together, effectively trapping Ianto. The calm expression on Harkness' face gave nothing away until one looked into his eyes. Jack's pupils were dilated, his nostrils flared, and Ianto would have to be totally inexperienced with sex not to recognize the signs.
Jack wanted him. Him.
It was a heady realization. And hard on the heels of it came the insight that Jack wouldn't actually do anything about it without permission from Ianto.
Realizing the moment was stretching on too long, Jack cleared his throat and eased up on Ianto's hands, allowing the younger man to pull away.
“Don't go, Jack,” Ianto quietly requested. His face flushed as he thought about how that could be taken.
“Ianto, I don't think--”
The younger man shook his head. “No, it's not about that. It's Christmas, Jack. And I think that you don't want to be alone any more than I.”
Jack nodded. It was true, but more to the point, he wanted to be here with Ianto. To his surprise he discovered that he’d take the younger man’s company even without the promise of sex.
This one could really hurt you, Harkness, he cautioned himself. But as usual he ignored the warning.
“So, if I’m staying and we’re not driving, didn’t you mention a bottle of Scotch earlier?” Jack grinned as Ianto’s eyes widened at the implied acceptance.
“Indeed I did.” With a smile, Ianto headed to the kitchen and pulled the bottle out of a cupboard. He handed it over to Jack for his inspection.
Jack whistled, impressed. “This is old. How’d you come across it?”
The other man shrugged. “My granddad gave it to my Tad as a wedding present. Tad was never much for Scotch so he passed it on to me. It was meant to celebrate my engagement to Lisa if she said yes, but…” He broke off, flushing.
“Ianto, I-“ Suddenly uncomfortable, Jack set the bottle aside.
“No, go on and open it. Please, Jack,” the younger man requested. “I’d rather not drink it on my own.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yep.” Ianto brought out two tumblers, setting them on the counter and watching as Jack opened the bottle.
Harkness poured a good measure into each glass, waiting for Ianto to claim one before taking the remaining tumbler.
“A toast,” the Captain suggested. “Even though I don’t believe in the religious overtones, to Christmas and the spirit of goodwill that it represents.”
They touched glasses, then Ianto spoke up.
“To Torchwood, charged with protecting humanity. And to those who will be absent this Christmas… their lives sacrificed for the cause.”
“Ianto…”
“It’s okay, Jack. Really. I’ve come to accept that Lisa, my Lisa, never made it out of Canary Wharf.” Ianto knocked back the rest of his scotch before holding it out for Jack to pour more.
Jack had to fight to hide his surprise. He had honestly never believed Ianto would make such an admission.
“I’m only sorry that my cowardice cost two others their lives. Not to mention placing everyone on this planet in jeopardy.” Ianto’s normally neutral expression had morphed to sharp regret.
“She must have been one hell of a woman,” Jack mused, watching his companion carefully. To his relief, Ianto merely nodded though his eyes were overly bright.
“She was.” The quiet statement said more than words could ever convey.
“Tell me about her,” the Captain urged. He knew how important it was to remember a lover and he wasn’t about to deny Ianto that right. Sometimes it was easier to talk to someone who didn’t know the deceased. Although given that he was partially responsible for Lisa’s death, he wasn’t at all sure that Ianto would want to.
“Not much to tell, really.” Ianto shrugged. “Not as if we were high school sweethearts. But if you really want to know, I’ll tell you. Only… I’d rather be sitting down. This Scotch is going to go to my head soon.”
“Good idea.”
They headed back to the living room, taking seats next to each other on the sofa. Jack refilled their glasses and they got comfortable. The television was still on as background noise, another version of “A Christmas Carol” playing.
After several long moments of watching in silence, Jack finally decided to broach the subject of Lisa once more. He wanted to know about this woman who had so captured Ianto’s heart and loyalty.
“I know you and Lisa met through Torchwood One but how did you come to start dating each other? Who made the first move?” Jack’s roguish grin indicated he didn’t think it was Ianto.
Ianto fought the instinct to roll his eyes, having a fair idea of the other man’s assumption.
“Actually, I asked her.” He smirked at the Captain’s startled look. “We were at one of the monthly social gatherings. Yvonne liked to pretend that she did it to get to know her staff better.”
“Obviously you don’t believe that,” Jack prompted.
The other man shook his head. “She was always on the lookout for her next pretty boy. And before you ask, no, I was never one of them.”
“Wouldn’t have thought of asking. It’s none of my business,” Harkness responded.
Ianto looked skeptical but didn’t pursue it.
“Lisa was there with some of her mates from Admin, and you couldn’t help but notice her.” Ianto took a deep swallow of scotch, trying hard not to let the memory pull him in too far. “One of my ex’s caught me eyeing her up and dared me to ask her out. I did, and the rest of if you pretty much know, or can guess.”
“So it was a dare?” Jack looked intrigued. He wasn’t about to touch the subject of “ex”. Finding out more about Lisa was his priority.
“Yep, and surprisingly she accepted immediately.” The younger man smiled reminiscently. “Seemed she had been watching me too.”
That didn’t surprise the Captain in the least. Ianto was easy on the eyes. Knock it off, he scolded his libido. Now is so definitely not the time!
Jack refilled both their glasses before taking a sip from his own. He swirled the tumbler lightly, seemingly fascinated by the liquid inside.
“What was she like?” he quietly asked, still unable to meet Ianto’s gaze. “Her personality, I mean.”
“Duw… she was amazing.” Ianto shook his head, not even sure where to begin. “She was outgoing and loved being around people. If there was anyone in the Tower she didn’t know, she at least knew someone who knew them. She was spontaneous and loved a good challenge. I guess that’s why she ended up with me.” His smile was genuine, though there was a ghost of sadness in his eyes.
“I thought you said she’d been watching you too?” Jack was confused now.
“She was. After we’d been going out for a while she told me that one of her goals was to get me to laugh at least once every hour we were together.” Ianto’s chuffle of laughter was somewhat watery but he continued, “Most of the time, she even managed it.”
“Sounds like she was one hell of a lady,” Harkness reflected. He raised his glass. “To Lisa. May she always be remembered with love, respect and admiration.”
“To Lisa.” Ianto emptied his glass then held it out for a refill. “Mind you, she wasn’t perfect… wasn’t always sweetness and light. She had a temper and when she lost it, you’d fear for your life.”
“Really.” Jack didn’t sound convinced.
“Yep. She once got so pissed off that I’d organized her side of the closet that she mixed one of my most expensive coffees with Tesco instant decaff. We didn’t speak for nearly three days.” He smiled slyly. “The make up sex was amazing, though.”
The Captain swore later on that Ianto had waited for him to take a sip of scotch when he’d said that. It burned its way up his nasal passages and back down his throat and he coughed until his eyes watered, choking on the laughter.
“I loved her so damned much, Jack,” Ianto whispered, his eyes bright. “And I miss her.”
Jack knew he had to choose his words carefully. This was about Ianto, and yet the other man needed to know he wasn’t alone in this; wasn’t the only one who had loved so deeply and lost so much.
Fortunately Ianto didn’t seem to require a response. Instead, he got to his feet and headed for the kitchen. He wasn’t sure what his intention was but he needed to move. Needed to be away from Jack and his incredible magnetism for a few minutes.
Popcorn, he finally decided. After all, they were still watching movies, and what was a movie night without popcorn? He rooted around in a closet until he found a box of microwave popcorn. Taking out a packet, he unwrapped it and placed it in the microwave.
A prickling of the hairs on his neck alerted him he was no longer alone and Ianto bit back a sigh. He should have known Jack would follow him. Taking a steadying breath, he turned to face Harkness.
“I-I’m sorry about that,” he said, forcing as much calm as possible into his words.
“Nothing to apologize for,” came the quick answer. “I’d be worried if you didn’t miss her, Ianto. If anything, I owe you the apology. I shouldn’t have asked. It’s too soon.”
Jack’s quiet voice and shadowed expression told Ianto far more than his words. He was willing to bet the other man knew more anyone could guess about loss.
The microwave timer pinged and Ianto removed the bag, shaking it to distribute the butter and salt. Pointing to a cupboard, he said, “Bowls are in there, mind getting two for me?”
Jack reached in and pulled them out, setting them on the counter near Ianto. He watched as the other man split the contents of the bag between the bowls, then took the one closest to him.
“I was well out of line that night,” Ianto murmured. At Jack’s questioning look, he clarified, “Calling you a monster. Accusing you of never having loved anyone.”
The words had struck deep at the time, but even then Jack knew they were fueled by rage, pain and grief. Ianto had said the first things he could think of that could hurt, unerringly getting it more right than even he could know. Still, Jack had found he couldn’t hold a grudge against the other man.
“Sometimes I think I’m the worst monster in this universe,” the Captain admitted. “But I do know what it’s like to have loved and lost, Ianto. The risk is worth it, with the right person.”
What the fuck was he saying? The right person… Jack mentally cursed himself. Ianto had considered Lisa his ‘right’ person, and now she was dead.
“I believe it will be a long time before I venture down that particular path again, sir.” Ianto’s stilted, formal voice did nothing to hide his turmoil.
Rather than make another useless apology, Jack nodded toward the living room.
“C’mon, there’s a bottle of scotch in there waiting for us, as well as the end of that movie. How does it all work out in the end?” He grinned at Ianto’s eye-roll. Some things could be timed precisely.
~**~
They sat together on the sofa and watched the movie in companionable silence. Reaching into his bowl for some more popcorn, Jack realized there was barely any left. Fighting back a grin, he realized that Ianto had obviously not been satisfied with just the one bowl.
Ianto could feel Jack’s stare and he couldn’t help flushing. The popcorn had tasted so good and Jack hadn’t seemed to be all that keen on it. Ianto honestly hadn’t thought the other man would miss it.
“I, um-- There’s more in the kitchen if you’d like,” he finally offered.
“No, it’s fine, really.” Jack grinned.
Both men focused again on the movie and it was less than half an hour later when Jack felt Ianto’s weight shift against him. He turned his head just slightly to see that the younger man had apparently fallen fast asleep against him.
Jack found himself strangely reluctant to move. He decided to finish out the movie before deciding what to do. There wasn’t much run time left, he knew.
Once it had finished, Jack picked up the remote and lowered the volume. His instinct was to shut it off entirely but he thought the sudden absence of sound might wake Ianto. And since the other man was so clearly in need of sleep, Jack had no desire to test it.
Next, he carefully slipped out from where Ianto was leaning against him. He supported the other man, guiding him gently down to lay on the sofa. Jack easily removed Ianto’s slippers and then covered him with the blanket laying over the back of the sofa.
Heading out to the kitchen, Jack found a glass and filled it with water, then searched the cupboards, sighing with relief when he found an over the counter pain reliever. Ianto was probably going to have one hell of a headache come morning. He set both on the coffee table within reach of Ianto’s head.
Satisfied he had done what he could to ensure Ianto’s comfort, Jack turned off the light and took a seat in the recliner across from the sofa. From here he could watch and make sure his charge got some undisturbed rest.
~**~
Ianto woke with a start, at first unsure where he was. It certainly wasn’t his bed. And it wasn’t a hospital, which was a relief. Blinking fuzzily, he realized he was in his living room on the sofa. And in that same instant, he realized he wasn’t alone.
He sat up suddenly, biting back a groan at the headache that exploded behind his eyes. In the dim light coming in from outside, Ianto saw the glass of water and the pain reliever and made a mental note to thank Jack come morning. He downed three tablets and drank the entire glass of water before he remembered.
He’d woken because he wasn’t alone. Jack, of course. And then he picked out the other man’s outline in the recliner. From the way Jack’s head was tilted to the side and the fact that he hadn’t said a word or moved, Ianto figured he had to be asleep. It looked bloody uncomfortable. Nearly as uncomfortable as the sofa.
“Jack,” he called softly, not wanting to startle the other man. He had seen enough of Jack’s fighting skills to guess this was not a man you wanted to surprise. “Jack, wake up. Time for bed.”
The other many groaned as he stirred. “What time’s it?”
“Going on two a.m. C’mon, I have some place more comfortable for you to sleep.”
Jack shook his head, trying to fight free of the mental cobwebs. “You woke me up just so I could go back to sleep?”
Ianto flushed, glad the darkness hid it. “Um, yeah… guess that would be one way of looking at it. I didn’t think you’d want to stay in that bloody chair all night, sir. Bed’s decently sized even for two adult men.”
That brought Jack fully awake.
“Bed? Ianto, are you propositioning me?” he asked, drowsiness robbing him of his normal sly innuendo.
“An invitation for sleep only, Jack.” Ianto paused a moment, then said, “But if you’re more comfortable out here… or perhaps it’s that you don’t trust yourself-“
“What?” That brought Jack to his feet. “I’ll have you know I can be a perfect gentleman. Lead the way and I’ll prove it.”
~**~
It had been a long time since Ianto had shared his bed with anyone. He had a hard time relaxing at first, but Jack kept his back to him and within minutes of settling, his breathing evened out, indicating sleep.
Ianto wondered what it would be like to share a bed with Jack Harkness for real. He swallowed the groan that the image produced. He’d enjoy it, he was sure of that much. Luckily the alcohol remaining in his system kept his body from reacting.
So fucked up, he thought, even as his eyes drifted closed.
Falling for one’s boss was bad enough. But the fact that the very same man was partially responsible for the death of his girlfriend, or well, her body at least….
Fuck. It was enough to give a man a headache.
~**~
Jack woke the next morning to an empty, unfamiliar bed. That it was unfamiliar wasn’t a surprise; he’d had more than his fair share of anonymous sex, both before and since becoming immortal.
It was the emptiness that surprised him. Usually he left his lovers sated and… Wait a minute. There’d been no sex last night. How was that possible?
Because you’re at Ianto’s place, not some nameless fuck.
Oh… yeah.
Sitting up and swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Jack noticed the robe placed carefully on the arm chair nearby. Assuming that Ianto had left it for him, he shrugged into it, belted it and went in search of his host.
He found the younger man in the kitchen, running water for a pot of coffee. At least that was what Jack was hoping for.
“Happy Christmas,” Ianto greeted with a small but genuine smile. “Hope you slept well?”
“Happy Christmas to you too. And yes, better than I have in a long time,” Jack admitted. It was no lie. Given that some nights he didn’t sleep at all, last night had been worth about a week’s worth of sleep.
“Coffee will be ready soon. Fancy some breakfast?” Opening up the fridge, Ianto said, “I’ve got eggs, bacon, milk, could even do up waffles, if you care for some.”
They settled on bacon, eggs and toast, with Jack helping. It felt oddly domestic and comfortable.
Out of curiosity, Jack checked the time, surprised to see that it was barely 0700. Not so surprising for himself, really.
As they sat down at the small table, Jack voiced his surprise.
Ianto shrugged, somewhat embarrassed. “Never been really good at holding my liquor. And… I don’t usually get much sleep overall.”
Jack nodded. He didn’t need Ianto to spell it out. He could guess that the other man suffered from pretty horrific nightmares, between Canary Wharf and Lisa.
They ate in silence for several minutes, both savoring the luxury of a home cooked meal. Once they’d finished the meal and started cleanup, Ianto broke the easy quiet.
“I-Thank you for last night, Jack. Letting me talk about Lisa, I mean. And the company.”
“She should always be remembered like that, Ianto,” Jack quietly responded. “Not the way you last saw her. That wasn’t Lisa. Ever.”
Ianto nodded.
Knowing the other man wouldn’t want to dwell on the subject, Jack gave one of his sly grins and added, “Besides, just wait until you really have a morning after to thank me for!”
Without batting an eye or changing expression, Ianto calmly asked, “And when exactly will that be, sir?”
A shiver chased down Jack’s spine at the low, almost seductive tone. Could it really be that Ianto wanted this, too? Wanted him? Because he wasn’t prepared to be a substitute for Lisa. He did not want to be just a mindless fuck to Ianto, that much he knew for certain.
“I think that’s your call,” the Captain finally answered, his expression uncharacteristically serious, given the topic was sex. “It hasn’t been that long since Lisa, and-“
“Lisa’s dead, Jack. And really? She was dead at Canary Wharf… it’s just that her body didn’t know that. And I couldn’t admit it. Still have trouble some times.” Ianto met Jack’s gaze squarely. “But you aren’t the only one who has been looking, Jack. I know what I want.”
To prove his point, Ianto closed the distance between them, still holding Jack’s gaze. The other man didn’t move, even as Ianto entered his personal space and kissed him. It was hot and demanding and when they separated, both were panting slightly.
Jack rested his hands on Ianto’s hips, and leaned his head forward to capture another kiss. This one was gentler yet no less intense.
Ianto untied the belt to Jack’s robe, pushing it off the broad shoulders. Taking the hint, Jack released his hold on Ianto’s hips, letting the garment drop to the floor. He wrapped his arms around the other man, pulling him close and grinding their hips together. His burgeoning erection was met with an equal hardness and Ianto groaned as desire swept through him.
“God, I want you, Jack,” he whispered, reaching between them and cupping the impressive bulge.
“Bedroom,” Jack murmured, fighting the urge to thrust into that teasing hand. He didn’t want their first time to be a quick hand job in the kitchen.
Both men managed to shed their clothing along the way. On the one level still capable of rational thought, Jack found it endearing that Ianto could allow his passion to overrule his seemingly innate sense of neatness.
And then Ianto was maneuvering them onto the bed, and all thought fled.
~**~
Ianto knew what he wanted to do with Jack but he didn’t want the other man to suspect just yet, so he started slow, mapping the well-muscled body with his tongue and fingers. To his delight, Jack was an extremely vocal and tactile lover, his hands sometimes covering and guiding Ianto’s while his voice murmured encouragement.
Despite Jack’s pleas, and his demanding hands, Ianto had so far avoided Jack’s groin and the almost painfully erect cock, weeping pre-cum. It wasn’t that he wasn’t comfortable with the thought. Far from it. But he wanted control, this first time. He wanted Jack to know that he was fully aware of what he was doing, and to whom.
“Fuck, Ianto,” the other man gasped, his back arching as he sought relief for his aching hard-on. “You’re killing me!”
“Soon, Jack,” Ianto soothed. “Look at me. Jack. Look at me.”
The commanding voice from the normally deferential archivist cut through the haze of desire and caught Jack’s attention. He opened his eyes and nearly came just at the sight of Ianto about to go down on him.
“Oh god…. Fuck, I’m not going to last, Ianto,” he gasped, hips bucking up as he was enveloped in wet heat. As Ianto sucked and licked, hitting all the right spots, Jack realized the other man was no novice at this. The thought soon shorted out when Ianto lightly grasped his balls, squeezing just enough that Jack came with a yell.
Ianto carefully released his lover, looking up to gauge the other man’s reaction. He was surprised at the tender expression on Jack’s face and he swallowed hard. What he wouldn’t do to see that look repeated.
Jack urged Ianto up into his arms, kissing him thoroughly. He had certainly not expected to be given such an intense orgasm this first time.
“Well, you certainly are full of surprises, Jones Ianto Jones,” he murmured, stealing another kiss.
The other man chuffed out a laugh, remembering their first meeting and how he’d stumbled over his own name.
Jack was aware of his partner’s neglected erection digging at his hip. Kissing a path along Ianto’s jaw, he laved his ear, laughing at the shiver it caused.
“What would you like to do?” he whispered.
“Can I-“ Ianto broke off, his earlier self-confidence seemingly deserting him.
Understanding the sudden shyness, Jack murmured, “Show me?”
Ianto straddled Jack, gasping as his sensitive cock made contact with the other man’s stomach. He knew it wouldn’t take much, he’d almost come when Jack had. He began rocking, swearing as the friction built between them.
Jack caught on and shifted, wrapping his arms around the lean frame to increase the pressure. It wasn’t long before Ianto’s thrusts grew erratic and less controlled.
“Duw! Oh fuck!” Ianto yelled as he came.
He collapsed bonelessly next to Jack, panting as if he’d run a race. Jack kissed his temple then slid from the bed.
“Where’re you going?” Ianto asked, hating that he felt he had to ask. Jack owed him no explanations.
But if the other man resented the question, it didn’t show when he leaned down and kissed Ianto again.
“We’ll both be more comfortable if we clean up a bit. I’ll be right back.”
Ianto dozed, but woke more fully when he felt the bed shift and a warm, wet cloth gently caressing his genitals.
“Mmmmm,” he murmured. “Feels good.”
“You’re not ready for another round yet, are you?” Jack wondered, unsure if he was up to that himself even.
“Nah… soon maybe.” Ianto opened his eyes and grinned with devilish glee.
“And they say I’m sex-obsessed,” the other man quipped. Tossing the cloth to land in a pile of their discarded clothes, Jack settled back down in the bed, pleased when Ianto rolled over to cuddle close without prompting.
He loved this almost as much as the sex act itself. The simple act of comfort given and taken, of knowing one wasn’t alone, was powerful.
“Happy Christmas, Jack,” Ianto whispered, leaning up for a kiss.
Jack deepened the kiss, tangling his hand in the short hair and cradling Ianto’s head to keep him close.
“So… got anything special you’d like to do today?” he wondered, drawing random patterns over Ianto’s torso. The silence stretched out long enough that he had begun to think the other man had fallen asleep on him.
Then Ianto shifted, wrapping an arm over Jack’s chest.
“Not when I first woke up,” he finally responded drowsily. “But now? I think I’d like to stay in bed all day. With you.”
Jack’s heart skipped a beat, then began racing. When he knew he could speak normally, he said, “I like that plan.”
Ianto murmured contentedly and between one breath and the next had drifted off. Jack knew he himself wouldn’t sleep but he was more than happy to lay here, holding his lover.
Lover. It had been a long time since he had let himself think of anyone in that context. But against all odds, Ianto Jones had slipped under his defenses and claimed the title. It meant all sorts of complications, both on the job and off, but Jack had a feeling that this young man was more than worth it.