Guilt - 54/69
Title: Guilt
Fandom: Torchwood
Pairings: Jack/Ianto, Ianto/Lisa
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Torchwood is not mine. No matter how much I sometimes wish it was.
Spoilers: Better say everything through s2, just to be sure, although it takes place pre-S1.
Summary: Why didn't you tell us? We could have helped you. - Well, what if he did?
This chapter: Ianto seems happy - Jack is happy to see it!
Thanks to: My beta cazmalfoy for all her wonderful work, and my cheerleaders angelzbabe1989 and piper08 for putting up with me when I whine about being stuck.
Author's Note: Voting is open at Children of Time. This fic is nominated in the Jack&Ianto WIP category - it's up against some very tough competition but every vote counts! (hint hint)
Author's Note 2: Happy Birthday missthingsplace!
Fic starts here
Previous chapters at my master list
Chapter Fifty-Four
Jack was lounging on the couch, watching Myfanwy dart around the water tower at the top of the Hub, when Ianto appeared from the direction of Lisa’s room with a contented smile on his face.
Jack felt a smile grow across his own face; Ianto should look happy more often. That was the first time Jack had seen Ianto really smiling in the week and a half since he’d returned from his injury. The first time in a lot longer than that, actually, if he thought about it.
He opened his mouth to call him over, but Ianto had already spotted him and was making his way over to the couch. Still smiling, he dropped down next to Jack - just close enough that Jack could almost feel his thigh brushing against his own. Even that faint whisper of contact sent a tiny tingle through Jack.
Didn’t Ianto know what he did to him by sitting that close? He’d been attracted to the younger man since that first meeting in the park that night, and it wasn’t abating at all as time went on. Worse, as he’d grown to know Ianto better, he’d discovered that it wasn’t only lust he was feeling; there was something deeper there, something akin to real, actual, honest-to-god feelings.
Which scared him, a little. He’d already found himself telling Ianto things he hadn’t spoken of for years, decades even. In his attempts to get Ianto to open up a little and let him in to help, he’d inadvertently started to let Ianto in himself. He was surprised at how highly he’d come to value the younger man’s friendship.
A slight movement at his side, Ianto’s leg coming into contact with his own for an ever-so-brief tantalising moment, had him shaking off the contemplative mood and turning his head to grin at Ianto. “You’re looking cheerful tonight. Lisa doing well?”
Ianto nodded. “Yep. We actually laughed together today for the first time in so long. It makes me feel good when she’s smiling.”
Jack hummed an agreement wistfully. He could only just remember being in love like that; where a single smile could lift your spirits even on the worst day. He was pleased for Ianto that he still had that, but couldn’t help wishing it for himself.
“So what were you laughing about, then? Or shouldn’t I ask?”
Ianto chuckled. “Oh, we were just discussing who is the more appealing: Johnny Depp or Tom Cruise. It’s a bit of an ongoing argument with us; we’ve been at it for years but neither of us can ever convince the other.”
“Oh really?” Jack was intrigued; was this revealing what he thought it did about Ianto? He’d had brief moments when he’d thought he’d seen something in the younger man’s actions, but brushed them off as wishful thinking and told himself to stop thinking about it. There was no point torturing himself with those thoughts. Even if it was true, Ianto loved Lisa and that was that.
But now, in the face of what seemed to be obvious evidence, he was curious again. “So, ah… whose side do you come down on then?”
“Tom Cruise,” Ianto answered immediately. He cocked his head and shrugged, still smiling. “It’s the jaw line. Johnny Depp just can’t compete with that.”
Jack tilted his head up a little and stared unseeingly at a spot on the wall behind Ianto’s head as he considered the options. “You have a point there, but I think I’m actually going to have to side with Lisa on this one. Johnny Depp just has a certain something.”
Ianto shook his head and sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes. “Not another one. God.” He laughed quietly. “Still, I guess it means I don’t have to listen to her go on about him, now. I can just send you and you can obsess together.”
Jack couldn’t help but laugh too. “Any time.” He sobered a little. “I actually mean that. If for any reason you can’t go see her one day, just ask. I… I actually sort of miss her.”
He shrugged minutely. “Although I wasn’t happy with the reason I was there instead of you, I liked spending time with her. I enjoyed her conversation.” He smiled at Ianto. “I can see why you fell in love with her.”
Ianto was looking at him with an odd expression; he didn’t recognise it. “What?”
Ianto shook his head. “Sometimes, sir - Jack - you really are an idiot.” He paused and his eyes widened. “I mean… um…”
Sensing that Ianto was worried he’d offended him, Jack held up a hand to stop him. “While I completely agree, I am an idiot sometimes, do you mind if I ask what idiotic thing I’ve done this time, specifically?”
Ianto visibly relaxed. “Just because I’m back doesn’t mean you can’t still go see Lisa if you want to. I’m pretty sure she misses talking to you too. You did so much for her when I couldn’t, and she’s mentioned you a few times in conversation. She’d be glad to see you.”
Despite the sincerity in Ianto’s tone, Jack was still a little hesitant. “Are you sure?”
Ianto smiled. “Absolutely. In fact, if nothing comes up to stop you, why don’t you come down with me tomorrow morning? You can drool over her new Johnny Depp DVD together.”
Jack smiled back at Ianto and nodded. “I’d like that.”
Chapter Fifty-Five
All comments and concrit welcomed! (Comments = Love <3)
Fandom: Torchwood
Pairings: Jack/Ianto, Ianto/Lisa
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Torchwood is not mine. No matter how much I sometimes wish it was.
Spoilers: Better say everything through s2, just to be sure, although it takes place pre-S1.
Summary: Why didn't you tell us? We could have helped you. - Well, what if he did?
This chapter: Ianto seems happy - Jack is happy to see it!
Thanks to: My beta cazmalfoy for all her wonderful work, and my cheerleaders angelzbabe1989 and piper08 for putting up with me when I whine about being stuck.
Author's Note: Voting is open at Children of Time. This fic is nominated in the Jack&Ianto WIP category - it's up against some very tough competition but every vote counts! (hint hint)
Author's Note 2: Happy Birthday missthingsplace!
Fic starts here
Previous chapters at my master list
Chapter Fifty-Four
Jack was lounging on the couch, watching Myfanwy dart around the water tower at the top of the Hub, when Ianto appeared from the direction of Lisa’s room with a contented smile on his face.
Jack felt a smile grow across his own face; Ianto should look happy more often. That was the first time Jack had seen Ianto really smiling in the week and a half since he’d returned from his injury. The first time in a lot longer than that, actually, if he thought about it.
He opened his mouth to call him over, but Ianto had already spotted him and was making his way over to the couch. Still smiling, he dropped down next to Jack - just close enough that Jack could almost feel his thigh brushing against his own. Even that faint whisper of contact sent a tiny tingle through Jack.
Didn’t Ianto know what he did to him by sitting that close? He’d been attracted to the younger man since that first meeting in the park that night, and it wasn’t abating at all as time went on. Worse, as he’d grown to know Ianto better, he’d discovered that it wasn’t only lust he was feeling; there was something deeper there, something akin to real, actual, honest-to-god feelings.
Which scared him, a little. He’d already found himself telling Ianto things he hadn’t spoken of for years, decades even. In his attempts to get Ianto to open up a little and let him in to help, he’d inadvertently started to let Ianto in himself. He was surprised at how highly he’d come to value the younger man’s friendship.
A slight movement at his side, Ianto’s leg coming into contact with his own for an ever-so-brief tantalising moment, had him shaking off the contemplative mood and turning his head to grin at Ianto. “You’re looking cheerful tonight. Lisa doing well?”
Ianto nodded. “Yep. We actually laughed together today for the first time in so long. It makes me feel good when she’s smiling.”
Jack hummed an agreement wistfully. He could only just remember being in love like that; where a single smile could lift your spirits even on the worst day. He was pleased for Ianto that he still had that, but couldn’t help wishing it for himself.
“So what were you laughing about, then? Or shouldn’t I ask?”
Ianto chuckled. “Oh, we were just discussing who is the more appealing: Johnny Depp or Tom Cruise. It’s a bit of an ongoing argument with us; we’ve been at it for years but neither of us can ever convince the other.”
“Oh really?” Jack was intrigued; was this revealing what he thought it did about Ianto? He’d had brief moments when he’d thought he’d seen something in the younger man’s actions, but brushed them off as wishful thinking and told himself to stop thinking about it. There was no point torturing himself with those thoughts. Even if it was true, Ianto loved Lisa and that was that.
But now, in the face of what seemed to be obvious evidence, he was curious again. “So, ah… whose side do you come down on then?”
“Tom Cruise,” Ianto answered immediately. He cocked his head and shrugged, still smiling. “It’s the jaw line. Johnny Depp just can’t compete with that.”
Jack tilted his head up a little and stared unseeingly at a spot on the wall behind Ianto’s head as he considered the options. “You have a point there, but I think I’m actually going to have to side with Lisa on this one. Johnny Depp just has a certain something.”
Ianto shook his head and sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes. “Not another one. God.” He laughed quietly. “Still, I guess it means I don’t have to listen to her go on about him, now. I can just send you and you can obsess together.”
Jack couldn’t help but laugh too. “Any time.” He sobered a little. “I actually mean that. If for any reason you can’t go see her one day, just ask. I… I actually sort of miss her.”
He shrugged minutely. “Although I wasn’t happy with the reason I was there instead of you, I liked spending time with her. I enjoyed her conversation.” He smiled at Ianto. “I can see why you fell in love with her.”
Ianto was looking at him with an odd expression; he didn’t recognise it. “What?”
Ianto shook his head. “Sometimes, sir - Jack - you really are an idiot.” He paused and his eyes widened. “I mean… um…”
Sensing that Ianto was worried he’d offended him, Jack held up a hand to stop him. “While I completely agree, I am an idiot sometimes, do you mind if I ask what idiotic thing I’ve done this time, specifically?”
Ianto visibly relaxed. “Just because I’m back doesn’t mean you can’t still go see Lisa if you want to. I’m pretty sure she misses talking to you too. You did so much for her when I couldn’t, and she’s mentioned you a few times in conversation. She’d be glad to see you.”
Despite the sincerity in Ianto’s tone, Jack was still a little hesitant. “Are you sure?”
Ianto smiled. “Absolutely. In fact, if nothing comes up to stop you, why don’t you come down with me tomorrow morning? You can drool over her new Johnny Depp DVD together.”
Jack smiled back at Ianto and nodded. “I’d like that.”
Chapter Fifty-Five
All comments and concrit welcomed! (Comments = Love <3)