gracie_musica: text (Default)
gracie_musica ([personal profile] gracie_musica) wrote2010-03-02 04:30 pm
Entry tags:

Torchwood -- Better Off

Title: Better Off
[livejournal.com profile] jantocam Challenge #2
Date Written: 3/2/10
Rating: PG/K+
Word Count: 458
Fandom: Torchwood
Disclaimer: Not mine, property of their respective owners
Characters/Pairings: Jack, Ianto
Spoilers: None.
Warnings: None. Slight possible AU.
Author's Notes: A little late, I know, but here it is! Massively unbetaed, all screw-ups mine.


"Here you are."

Jack Harkness looked up, startled by the sudden appearance of a takeaway cup in his field of vision. A young man with dark hair and dressed in an impeccable suit was standing in front of him.

He smiled apologetically. "It's hot cocoa," the youth explained, the words framed in a gorgeous accent. Welsh, if Jack's guess was correct.

"How manly." The insult slipped from his lips before Jack realized that he'd said it.

The younger man took it in stride, however, with a shrug. "The coffee from that place is shite, cocoa's the only good thing they make." He nodded at Jack. "You look like you could use something to lift your spirits."

Jack chuckled a little. "You could say that." He looked at the rose in his hand and shrugged. "My girlfriend dumped me."

"I'm sorry." The condolence was surprisingly heartfelt.

He pulled a small velvet-covered box out of his coat pocket and looked down at it. "I was going to ask her to marry me."

There was an awkward pause as the other man tried to figure out what to say. Finally he sighed. "Well, it's a good thing she dumped you before it got complicated."

The laugh burst out of Jack before he could catch himself. The dark-haired man grinned and pushed the cup into his hands. "Go on. On me. Chocolate's good for helping to heal a broken heart. Girls get it right sometimes."

"T-thank you." Jack went to fumble in his pocket for some cash, but the man just shook his head.

"On the house." He pointed at the cup. "And don't be afraid to get something stronger into you."

Jack nodded and the dark-haired man turned to continue on his way. He was halfway across the street before Jack realized --

"Hey, what's your name?" he called out.

The younger man turned to holler back "Ianto!" over the roar of engines idling at the light.

"I'm -- "

Jack's yell was caught up in sound of a lorry rumbling down the street as the light changed, horn blaring and blocking the young man from view. When the truck finally moved away, Ianto was gone.

He sighed and sat down at the fountain, looking at the drink in his hand. He wasn't actually going to drink it -- his mother hadn't raised stupid children -- but the thought still warmed him from head to toe.

He grinned a little when he noticed that the barista had scribbled Ianto's name on the take-away cup. He was a regular, then, or regular enough to be friendly with the staff.

He'd have to swing by the shop. He did owe the man a drink, at least.

Maybe that something stronger Ianto had suggested.

[identity profile] bookwrm89.livejournal.com 2010-03-02 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I love this! I was really surprised there weren't more completely AU fics from this prompt LOL I'd love to see what happens next *winks*

[identity profile] gracie-musica.livejournal.com 2010-03-02 10:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, thank you so much! I <3 AUs, so the bunny snapped at me.

I don't think I'll be doing the SGA one, since I don't know the fandom AT ALL, but I love the picture. You're going to get lots of "Jack stormed in yelling, Ianto at his heels" bits from that one!

[identity profile] caz251.livejournal.com 2010-03-02 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Ooh I like, any chance of a continuation?

[identity profile] bookwrm89.livejournal.com 2010-03-02 10:53 pm (UTC)(link)
*laughs* That's okay, there are a couple of the requested cross-over fandoms that I've never even watched.

[identity profile] gracie-musica.livejournal.com 2010-03-02 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't think so, this one seems to be tidy and contained. But who knows?

Thanks for reading!

[identity profile] luvinthe88and20.livejournal.com 2010-03-02 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Very cute story and I love by chance meeting.

[identity profile] gracie-musica.livejournal.com 2010-03-02 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you!

(I am working on the Idris Auction Fic as soon as I'm done playing comment catch-up. I have it plotted)

[identity profile] luvinthe88and20.livejournal.com 2010-03-02 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
ooh awesome. So than my Sarah Jane in verse would be next because Idris was Teach.

[identity profile] gracie-musica.livejournal.com 2010-03-02 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes! Yours is actually almost done. One more scene left. Well, two. Well, one transitions into two. You get my point.

[identity profile] luvinthe88and20.livejournal.com 2010-03-02 11:19 pm (UTC)(link)
oh cool. can't wait.

[identity profile] rosy5000.livejournal.com 2010-03-02 11:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Aww! That definitely seems like a Ianto thing to do, comforting a stranger. :)

Wonder if Jack's ever successful in tracking Ianto down? ;)

[identity profile] thrace-adams.livejournal.com 2010-03-03 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
OH this is a nice change from everything else. Really lovely job!

[identity profile] gracie-musica.livejournal.com 2010-03-03 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I loved everyone else's fics, but I really wanted to do something different. :) I'm glad that you liked it.

[identity profile] gracie-musica.livejournal.com 2010-03-03 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
It does, doesn't it? He's a sweet person, even despite Torchwood.

Ooh, you write it and tell me if he does! *grins*

[identity profile] teachwriteslash.livejournal.com 2010-03-03 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
Oh this is sweet!

And I read the comments ... Idris soon!!!!

I am trying to do March without Jack storming in :-)

[identity profile] gracie-musica.livejournal.com 2010-03-03 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
Yup! Idris and Sarah Jane soon! :) The lovely [livejournal.com profile] cjharknessgirl has already made the banners. They're gorgeous.

But we like it when Jack storms in... All frowny-faced and serious... Coat swishing behind him, occasionally showing his ass in those pants...

What were we talking about?

[identity profile] teachwriteslash.livejournal.com 2010-03-03 04:10 am (UTC)(link)
He will be deliberate and serious ... and that ass... but he ditched the coat .... oh ... he's gonna have to find it again ... oh ....**************goes off with massive bunny**********

[identity profile] cjharknessgirl.livejournal.com 2010-03-03 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
I loved this! It was so sweet how Ianto offered Jack a hot cocoa to lift his spirits. I can just see Ianto doing that. :)

[identity profile] gracie-musica.livejournal.com 2010-03-03 05:40 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, thank you so very much! I'm so glad that you liked it, sweetheart.

[identity profile] gracie-musica.livejournal.com 2010-03-03 05:40 am (UTC)(link)
*calls after* You're welcome~!

[identity profile] reddevilpoes.livejournal.com 2010-03-03 07:27 am (UTC)(link)
"Chocolate's good for helping to heal a broken heart. Girls get it right sometimes."

Glad to hear that.
Especially chocolate served by Ianto...now that would do my poor heart (and my dirty dirty mind) a world of good.

[identity profile] owensheart.livejournal.com 2010-03-03 02:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh this was lovely but poor jack being dumped. You should continue this with him seeing Ianto again hint hint.

[identity profile] gracie-musica.livejournal.com 2010-03-04 01:04 am (UTC)(link)
What if you did the next part, hint hint? ;)

I'm glad that you liked it!

[identity profile] gracie-musica.livejournal.com 2010-03-04 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
I know. Chocolate served by Ianto... Mmm, those yummy pterodactyl hunting sessions...

[identity profile] owensheart.livejournal.com 2010-03-04 01:54 pm (UTC)(link)
HMMMMM that certaily would be a challeng as I have never written Jack/Ianto. Let me think a littte bit about it.

So if I do write it, what do I do just credit you in the authers note to say I am continuing your story?

[identity profile] gracie-musica.livejournal.com 2010-03-06 06:15 am (UTC)(link)
*enable enable enable!* I love round robins!

If you do write the next part, just link to this part and say you're continuing it. :D

[identity profile] gingerlr.livejournal.com 2010-03-10 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Ianto sighed as he re-read the letter from his family. He knew that they did not approve of his 'lifestyle' but to actually put it in writing made his heart break even more.

He jerked back from his seat as a large hand reached in front of him, holding a take-away cup.

"It's hot cocoa. Their coffee does taste like shite. So girlfriend dump you also?"

"Um, thanks. No, my family does not approve of my life." Ianto forced a smile on his face as he recognized the man he had brought cocoa to recently.

"Damn. I hate when that happens. I guess you might need something stronger. I know this cute little pub down the road a bit. Let me buy you a drink and you can tell me all about your life." Jack held out his hand towards Ianto who grabbed it tightly.

"I'd like that if you let me buy dinner and you can tell me all about your life."

"It's a date!"

[identity profile] rosy5000.livejournal.com 2010-03-10 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
*melts just a little* That sounds so much better than anything I could ever write. Mine would sound worse than a "Dick & Jane" book. lol That's why I stick to reading. :D

[identity profile] gracie-musica.livejournal.com 2010-03-10 07:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Ahhh.... Ginger fic. <3!