Fic: Vizzini's Rule (34/105)
Title: Vizzini's Rule, Chapter 34
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Some sexy talk and kissin'
Spoilers: Season One thru Greeks Bearing Gifts (1x7)
Disclaimer: Torchwood and all its wonderfulness belong to Russell T. Davies and the Mighty Beeb. Just goofin' around!
Summary: In which Jack and Ianto meet for dinner...
Notes: The dinner was taken from in BBCA Captain’s Blog “Other Staff issues: Ianto is still suffering, but putting on a brave face. Will try talking to him over dinner, outside the Hub, see if there's anything more I can do for him.” Thanks so much to everyone who's reading!! :o) This chapter is dedicated the wonderful butterflycellfor making such a gorgeous icon with text from this story. Thanks hun!!
Previous Chapters
Vizzini's Rule: Chapter Thirty-Four
Ianto slept late the morning after the ‘Mary’ incident. It was tradition in Torchwood to take it easy the day after a late night. Jack never expected the team to keep regular hours, especially when they’d been at work until three in the morning. He rolled over and grabbed his mobile off the nightstand. Sure enough, there was a text from Jack to the team.
“C U THURS. MOBILES ON. CJH”
Ianto relaxed into the pillows. Two days off, he thought. Last week, I was in the Hub the whole time…with Jack…
He sighed. Since that obviously wasn’t going to be the case for this two-day break, he needed to make some plans. He started a list in his head: dry cleaners, grocery (do I have any food here at all?), book due back at the library, laundry (ugh), clean flat. None of it sounded very fun. He sighed again and rolled over, burying his head in the pillows. Maybe Jack will call, he thought, he said something about dinner, he said tonight. Deciding that lying around in bed thinking about Jack was not a good idea, Ianto got up and showered and started on his list, keeping his mobile nearby… just in case.
His diligence was rewarded. He was just leaving the market when his mobile finally rang. He glanced at the display and smiled.
“Yes, sir?” he answered on the third ring.
“Ianto,” Jack said.
“Yes, sir?” Ianto repeated.
“Did you think about dinner?”
“I believe I agreed when you asked, sir.”
“Oh yeah, right.”
There was a pause.
Ianto rolled his eyes. “If you’ve changed your mind, sir, just tell me. I’ve got milk spoiling here.”
“Milk? Where are you?”
“Just been to the market, sir.”
“Did you get more HobNobs? Owen ate the last pack and they’re all gone.”
Ianto grinned. “Yes, sir. More HobNobs and some of those hazelnut biscuits you like too. Would you like me to run them over now?”
Jack chuckled, “No, I think I can survive a little longer. Is it still convenient to meet for dinner then?”
“Yes, sir. What time?”
“Around seven? At the pub?” Jack’s tentative tone made Ianto’s smile widen.
“I’ll meet you there.”
“Okay. Bye, Ianto.”
“Good bye, sir.”
Ianto flipped his phone closed and tried very, very hard not to grin. He didn’t succeed.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
A few hours later, Ianto was standing in front of his closet in a towel, dithering over what to wear. A suit said ‘yes, this is a business meeting’ whereas jeans were more ‘so, is this a date?’ and since Ianto was certain that it wasn’t a date, he was leaning towards putting on a suit. But then again, a suit was a little much for the pub on a Tuesday night. It’s one thing to come in a suit after work when I’ve been wearing it all day, but to put it on to go to the pub…
Ianto caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror on his closet door and laughed. Get a grip, son, it’s dinner at the bloody pub, not a visit to the Queen. He finally settled on middle ground - a pair of tan, flat-front trousers and a black cotton-silk-blend dress shirt that he’d bought a few months before but hadn’t worn yet. The fabric was too soft to wear with a suit and tie so it was hanging in his closet with the tags still attached. He buttoned the cuffs, but left the top few buttons undone and decided that he could pass for ‘business casual’ in a pinch. He ran a brush through his hair and put on his shoes and headed for his car.
When he got to the pub, he was glad to see that Jack was already there. He was sitting at one of the corner booths with two pints in front of him.
“Thirsty tonight, sir?” Ianto asked dryly as he slipped off his jacket and slid into the booth.
“Ha ha,” Jack replied. He slid the pint with the dark beer over to Ianto and took a sip of the pale amber liquid in his glass. “You know I can’t stand that stuff.”
After taking a healthy swallow, Ianto motioned towards Jack’s glass. “Not your usual,” he observed.
Jack smiled. “Nah, I thought I’d let myself splurge tonight. Black Thorn,” he said, taking another sip of his cider.
“Hmm, good stuff. Thanks for this, I’ll get the next round.”
Jack waved his hand dismissively. “It’s on Torchwood tonight.”
“Oh yes,” Ianto said. He reached into his coat and pulled out a small notepad and a pen. “I’m ready when you are, sir.”
Jack stared at Ianto for a moment and then burst into laughter, drawing several curious glances his way. Ianto grumpily noticed that they all (two women and one man) looked interested. He smiled back at Jack. “Well, you did say you wanted to discuss the PM’s call.”
“Yeah, I did.” Jack reached across the table and took the pen, letting his fingers brush over Ianto’s hand. “And we’ll give the PM his five minutes at some point, but right now I want supper. What would you like?”
Ianto smiled at Jack, “Oh you know, the usual. Fish and chips with-”
“-mushy peas,” Jack finished. “I should’ve known.” He reached out to grasp Ianto’s hand for a quick moment. “I’ll be right back,” he said and headed to the bar to place their order. One of the women Ianto had noticed leaned back on her stool and crossed her legs at Jack, but all she got was a quick grin of appreciation before Jack caught the bartender’s eye.
When Jack returned they had both relaxed a bit. Ianto was feeling a little more confident that Jack hadn’t completely lost interest in him. He was trying to figure out a way to convince Jack to pick up where they left off wherever that was! but decided he was pushing things too hard. He let his mind take a break from scheming and just enjoyed being with Jack again.
The evening passed too quickly for Ianto and all too soon Jack was paying the tab and helping him into his jacket. Jack rested his hands on Ianto’s shoulders for a moment, standing closer than he had since that horrible conversation in his office. Ianto sighed with pleasure and allowed himself to sway back into Jack’s body for a quick moment, before he turned to face him. Jack’s expression was impossible to read in the dark corner of the pub. Ianto wanted nothing more than to reach out and kiss him, but managed to control himself. Silently, they walked out of the pub and over to Ianto’s car.
Ianto turned and said, “Jack-”
At the same moment, Jack raised his head and said, “Ianto-”
They both laughed quietly.
“You first,” Ianto said.
Jack sighed. “I’m trying to do what’s right here, Ianto, give you time. But it’s damn hard.”
“What if I don’t want time?”
Jack shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Ianto leaned back against his car. “I know what I want, Jack. The only question is, what do you want?”
Jack stepped forward, pressing his body against Ianto’s, trapping him. Ianto groaned as he felt Jack’s hardness against his hip. “I know that I want you, Ianto,” Jack whispered. “That’s not the question.”
Ianto caught his lower lip between his teeth, feeling very young. “Then what is the question?”
“There’s so much you don’t know about me,” Jack said, “so much I don’t know about myself. I need answers.”
“Can I help?” Ianto asked, sliding his hands up Jack’s arms to rest them on his shoulders.
“No, I wish you could,” Jack replied, slipping his arms around Ianto’s waist. They were only inches apart now, drawn together like magnets.
“What do you need, Jack?” Ianto leaned his forehead on Jack’s. “What can I do to convince you that this is what I want? What I need.”
“Oh, Ianto.” Jack said as he turned his head to place a line of soft kisses on Ianto’s cheek. “If only it were as simple as want and need.”
Ianto tilted his head to the side to give Jack better access to the tender skin of his neck. “Can’t we make it that simple?”
“This,” Jack said as he kissed the hollow of Ianto’s throat, “has been driving me mad all night.”
“Ja-ack,” Ianto scolded.
“Seriously. This little vee of skin that I never get to see when you’re all buttoned up.” Jack ran a finger down Ianto’s neck to the curls that were revealed by the open buttons. “Tonight, it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Jack, I asked you a question.”
Jack sighed and pulled back slightly so he could look Ianto in the eye. “Yes. Okay? Yes, we could make it that simple.”
“Then why-”
“Because I will hurt you,” Jack said harshly. He seemed to read the surprise in Ianto’s eyes and softened his voice. “And I don’t want to. But I will, I know I will. It’s what I do,” he whispered bitterly.
“I don’t care.”
It was Jack’s turn to look surprised.
“I don’t care,” Ianto said more forcefully. He raised his hands to Jack’s face, making him meet his gaze. “I’ve been hurt before, Jack. I know I can survive. I’m not sure I could survive being around you every day and never getting to touch you like this again.”
Jack groaned. “This is what I was afraid of! This is why I said we should forget it ever happened. Oh God, I never should have kissed you.”
“I kissed you,” Ianto pointed out, his lips close to Jack’s. “And you’re kidding yourself if you think we haven’t been headed here since that moment in the warehouse. Want and need, Jack,” Ianto said quietly, dropping his arms to his sides and standing very still. “Want and need or we can go back in the pub and you can Retcon me right now. Because that is the only way I will ever be able to forget.”
Jack was silent for a long moment, simply staring at Ianto. “Want and need?”
“Yes,” Ianto said quietly. “No complications.”
“Well,” Jack chuckled as he pulled Ianto into his arms again, “There will be complications, that’s a guarantee.”
Ianto smiled, relief flooding through him. “I suppose that’s true,” he said.
“Are you sure this is what you want, Ianto?”
Ianto opened his mouth to reply but Jack placed a finger over his lips. “Think first. I need you to be sure. It has been so, so very long since I let anyone in, I’m not sure I even remember how to do it. I will be mean. I will be careless with you. And I will hate myself when I see that look in your eyes.”
“What look?” Ianto asked from behind Jack’s finger.
“The look you gave me in my office two days ago.”
Ianto smiled. “It’s only been two days? I thought it must have been at least a week.”
Jack still looked serious. “Are you certain?”
Ianto didn’t answer, he just reached behind him and opened the car door, motioning for Jack to get in. Quirking an eyebrow, Jack obeyed silently. Ianto walked around and got behind the wheel, pointing the car towards his flat without saying a word. Jack looked over at him a few times, but didn’t break the silence. Ianto parked the car and led Jack to his front door. He put the key in the lock and turned to look at Jack.
“Come inside. I want to show you just how certain I am.” Ianto nudged the door open behind him but didn’t go in. “I need you to know.” He wound his arms around Jack’s neck and placed a soft kiss on his mouth. “Want and need. Simple.”
Jack groaned and stepped forward, pushing Ianto into his flat as he pulled him into his arms. He kissed Ianto thoroughly as he kicked the door shut behind them.
TBC in Chapter Thirty-Five, Part One
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Some sexy talk and kissin'
Spoilers: Season One thru Greeks Bearing Gifts (1x7)
Disclaimer: Torchwood and all its wonderfulness belong to Russell T. Davies and the Mighty Beeb. Just goofin' around!
Summary: In which Jack and Ianto meet for dinner...
Notes: The dinner was taken from in BBCA Captain’s Blog “Other Staff issues: Ianto is still suffering, but putting on a brave face. Will try talking to him over dinner, outside the Hub, see if there's anything more I can do for him.” Thanks so much to everyone who's reading!! :o) This chapter is dedicated the wonderful butterflycellfor making such a gorgeous icon with text from this story. Thanks hun!!
Previous Chapters
Vizzini's Rule: Chapter Thirty-Four
Ianto slept late the morning after the ‘Mary’ incident. It was tradition in Torchwood to take it easy the day after a late night. Jack never expected the team to keep regular hours, especially when they’d been at work until three in the morning. He rolled over and grabbed his mobile off the nightstand. Sure enough, there was a text from Jack to the team.
“C U THURS. MOBILES ON. CJH”
Ianto relaxed into the pillows. Two days off, he thought. Last week, I was in the Hub the whole time…with Jack…
He sighed. Since that obviously wasn’t going to be the case for this two-day break, he needed to make some plans. He started a list in his head: dry cleaners, grocery (do I have any food here at all?), book due back at the library, laundry (ugh), clean flat. None of it sounded very fun. He sighed again and rolled over, burying his head in the pillows. Maybe Jack will call, he thought, he said something about dinner, he said tonight. Deciding that lying around in bed thinking about Jack was not a good idea, Ianto got up and showered and started on his list, keeping his mobile nearby… just in case.
His diligence was rewarded. He was just leaving the market when his mobile finally rang. He glanced at the display and smiled.
“Yes, sir?” he answered on the third ring.
“Ianto,” Jack said.
“Yes, sir?” Ianto repeated.
“Did you think about dinner?”
“I believe I agreed when you asked, sir.”
“Oh yeah, right.”
There was a pause.
Ianto rolled his eyes. “If you’ve changed your mind, sir, just tell me. I’ve got milk spoiling here.”
“Milk? Where are you?”
“Just been to the market, sir.”
“Did you get more HobNobs? Owen ate the last pack and they’re all gone.”
Ianto grinned. “Yes, sir. More HobNobs and some of those hazelnut biscuits you like too. Would you like me to run them over now?”
Jack chuckled, “No, I think I can survive a little longer. Is it still convenient to meet for dinner then?”
“Yes, sir. What time?”
“Around seven? At the pub?” Jack’s tentative tone made Ianto’s smile widen.
“I’ll meet you there.”
“Okay. Bye, Ianto.”
“Good bye, sir.”
Ianto flipped his phone closed and tried very, very hard not to grin. He didn’t succeed.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
A few hours later, Ianto was standing in front of his closet in a towel, dithering over what to wear. A suit said ‘yes, this is a business meeting’ whereas jeans were more ‘so, is this a date?’ and since Ianto was certain that it wasn’t a date, he was leaning towards putting on a suit. But then again, a suit was a little much for the pub on a Tuesday night. It’s one thing to come in a suit after work when I’ve been wearing it all day, but to put it on to go to the pub…
Ianto caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror on his closet door and laughed. Get a grip, son, it’s dinner at the bloody pub, not a visit to the Queen. He finally settled on middle ground - a pair of tan, flat-front trousers and a black cotton-silk-blend dress shirt that he’d bought a few months before but hadn’t worn yet. The fabric was too soft to wear with a suit and tie so it was hanging in his closet with the tags still attached. He buttoned the cuffs, but left the top few buttons undone and decided that he could pass for ‘business casual’ in a pinch. He ran a brush through his hair and put on his shoes and headed for his car.
When he got to the pub, he was glad to see that Jack was already there. He was sitting at one of the corner booths with two pints in front of him.
“Thirsty tonight, sir?” Ianto asked dryly as he slipped off his jacket and slid into the booth.
“Ha ha,” Jack replied. He slid the pint with the dark beer over to Ianto and took a sip of the pale amber liquid in his glass. “You know I can’t stand that stuff.”
After taking a healthy swallow, Ianto motioned towards Jack’s glass. “Not your usual,” he observed.
Jack smiled. “Nah, I thought I’d let myself splurge tonight. Black Thorn,” he said, taking another sip of his cider.
“Hmm, good stuff. Thanks for this, I’ll get the next round.”
Jack waved his hand dismissively. “It’s on Torchwood tonight.”
“Oh yes,” Ianto said. He reached into his coat and pulled out a small notepad and a pen. “I’m ready when you are, sir.”
Jack stared at Ianto for a moment and then burst into laughter, drawing several curious glances his way. Ianto grumpily noticed that they all (two women and one man) looked interested. He smiled back at Jack. “Well, you did say you wanted to discuss the PM’s call.”
“Yeah, I did.” Jack reached across the table and took the pen, letting his fingers brush over Ianto’s hand. “And we’ll give the PM his five minutes at some point, but right now I want supper. What would you like?”
Ianto smiled at Jack, “Oh you know, the usual. Fish and chips with-”
“-mushy peas,” Jack finished. “I should’ve known.” He reached out to grasp Ianto’s hand for a quick moment. “I’ll be right back,” he said and headed to the bar to place their order. One of the women Ianto had noticed leaned back on her stool and crossed her legs at Jack, but all she got was a quick grin of appreciation before Jack caught the bartender’s eye.
When Jack returned they had both relaxed a bit. Ianto was feeling a little more confident that Jack hadn’t completely lost interest in him. He was trying to figure out a way to convince Jack to pick up where they left off wherever that was! but decided he was pushing things too hard. He let his mind take a break from scheming and just enjoyed being with Jack again.
The evening passed too quickly for Ianto and all too soon Jack was paying the tab and helping him into his jacket. Jack rested his hands on Ianto’s shoulders for a moment, standing closer than he had since that horrible conversation in his office. Ianto sighed with pleasure and allowed himself to sway back into Jack’s body for a quick moment, before he turned to face him. Jack’s expression was impossible to read in the dark corner of the pub. Ianto wanted nothing more than to reach out and kiss him, but managed to control himself. Silently, they walked out of the pub and over to Ianto’s car.
Ianto turned and said, “Jack-”
At the same moment, Jack raised his head and said, “Ianto-”
They both laughed quietly.
“You first,” Ianto said.
Jack sighed. “I’m trying to do what’s right here, Ianto, give you time. But it’s damn hard.”
“What if I don’t want time?”
Jack shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Ianto leaned back against his car. “I know what I want, Jack. The only question is, what do you want?”
Jack stepped forward, pressing his body against Ianto’s, trapping him. Ianto groaned as he felt Jack’s hardness against his hip. “I know that I want you, Ianto,” Jack whispered. “That’s not the question.”
Ianto caught his lower lip between his teeth, feeling very young. “Then what is the question?”
“There’s so much you don’t know about me,” Jack said, “so much I don’t know about myself. I need answers.”
“Can I help?” Ianto asked, sliding his hands up Jack’s arms to rest them on his shoulders.
“No, I wish you could,” Jack replied, slipping his arms around Ianto’s waist. They were only inches apart now, drawn together like magnets.
“What do you need, Jack?” Ianto leaned his forehead on Jack’s. “What can I do to convince you that this is what I want? What I need.”
“Oh, Ianto.” Jack said as he turned his head to place a line of soft kisses on Ianto’s cheek. “If only it were as simple as want and need.”
Ianto tilted his head to the side to give Jack better access to the tender skin of his neck. “Can’t we make it that simple?”
“This,” Jack said as he kissed the hollow of Ianto’s throat, “has been driving me mad all night.”
“Ja-ack,” Ianto scolded.
“Seriously. This little vee of skin that I never get to see when you’re all buttoned up.” Jack ran a finger down Ianto’s neck to the curls that were revealed by the open buttons. “Tonight, it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Jack, I asked you a question.”
Jack sighed and pulled back slightly so he could look Ianto in the eye. “Yes. Okay? Yes, we could make it that simple.”
“Then why-”
“Because I will hurt you,” Jack said harshly. He seemed to read the surprise in Ianto’s eyes and softened his voice. “And I don’t want to. But I will, I know I will. It’s what I do,” he whispered bitterly.
“I don’t care.”
It was Jack’s turn to look surprised.
“I don’t care,” Ianto said more forcefully. He raised his hands to Jack’s face, making him meet his gaze. “I’ve been hurt before, Jack. I know I can survive. I’m not sure I could survive being around you every day and never getting to touch you like this again.”
Jack groaned. “This is what I was afraid of! This is why I said we should forget it ever happened. Oh God, I never should have kissed you.”
“I kissed you,” Ianto pointed out, his lips close to Jack’s. “And you’re kidding yourself if you think we haven’t been headed here since that moment in the warehouse. Want and need, Jack,” Ianto said quietly, dropping his arms to his sides and standing very still. “Want and need or we can go back in the pub and you can Retcon me right now. Because that is the only way I will ever be able to forget.”
Jack was silent for a long moment, simply staring at Ianto. “Want and need?”
“Yes,” Ianto said quietly. “No complications.”
“Well,” Jack chuckled as he pulled Ianto into his arms again, “There will be complications, that’s a guarantee.”
Ianto smiled, relief flooding through him. “I suppose that’s true,” he said.
“Are you sure this is what you want, Ianto?”
Ianto opened his mouth to reply but Jack placed a finger over his lips. “Think first. I need you to be sure. It has been so, so very long since I let anyone in, I’m not sure I even remember how to do it. I will be mean. I will be careless with you. And I will hate myself when I see that look in your eyes.”
“What look?” Ianto asked from behind Jack’s finger.
“The look you gave me in my office two days ago.”
Ianto smiled. “It’s only been two days? I thought it must have been at least a week.”
Jack still looked serious. “Are you certain?”
Ianto didn’t answer, he just reached behind him and opened the car door, motioning for Jack to get in. Quirking an eyebrow, Jack obeyed silently. Ianto walked around and got behind the wheel, pointing the car towards his flat without saying a word. Jack looked over at him a few times, but didn’t break the silence. Ianto parked the car and led Jack to his front door. He put the key in the lock and turned to look at Jack.
“Come inside. I want to show you just how certain I am.” Ianto nudged the door open behind him but didn’t go in. “I need you to know.” He wound his arms around Jack’s neck and placed a soft kiss on his mouth. “Want and need. Simple.”
Jack groaned and stepped forward, pushing Ianto into his flat as he pulled him into his arms. He kissed Ianto thoroughly as he kicked the door shut behind them.
TBC in Chapter Thirty-Five, Part One