gracie_musica (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
gracie_musica) wrote2008-11-19 12:19 am
gracie_musica) wrote2008-11-19 12:19 am
Entry tags:
Footnotes -- Only Human
Title: Footnotes
Chapter Five: Only Human
Date Written: 11/19/08
Rating: PG-13/T
Word Count: 1,728
Fandom: Torchwood/Doctor Who
Characters/Pairings: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones, Das/Anne-Marie
Spoilers: Season 03 of Doctor Who, Torchwood 02, and for the Ninth Doctor Adventure novel Only Human
Warnings: mentions m/m relationship
Author's Notes: Thanks so very much to my darling betas![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
totally4ryo and katestamps. I needed a Janto fix from the last chapter.
Summaries for the books can be found at Wikipedia, at the Doctor Who wiki, and at Doctorwhoguide.com.
Previous chapters found here.
Date nights with Jack Harkness always did Ianto's head in.
Tosh said (in jest one day, but it stuck in his head) that it was because they had accidentally fallen into dating before Jack had gone off with the Doctor -- and she hadn't been referring to the sex. They had gone out together on occasion, just the two of them. Gwen had, apparently, asked once if she could come along, but Jack had (rather abruptly) tuned her down and whisked out the door before Gwen could argue back. And looking back, Ianto had to admit that their gorgeous tech was rather right.
Sometimes it had been Weevil Hunting, the real-life application of drills to get Ianto up to par in the field. After Lisa, Jack had sworn that Ianto would get out with them more, and then after the cannibals he'd decided that things would run more smoothly if they could have a bit more control over the environment they worked in. When he'd explained this to Ianto, the younger man had been forced to agree that the Captain had been right.
Other times they would go sit in a pub or a cafe and talk. It was a pattern they'd started while Ianto was on his suspension, and they usually had dinner together and talked. Normally, their conversations had no real substance behind their words, just the two of them enjoying being together. Sometimes, though, the two of them would swap stories about battle or things they had seen both on and off the job. It really had been helpful, to be able to discuss things through with Jack and know he wouldn't be judged or pitied for surviving.
Now Jack was back, though, and there were real dates along with the sort of dates. Dates where Jack would show up in nice clothing and hold Ianto's hand as they walked to the restaurant of the night. Dates where Jack would be every inch the polite gentleman and only sit just a little too close to Ianto at dinner. Dates where Ianto had to be the one to break down and initiate the teenage-like make-out session in the back row of the cinema. Dates where Jack would kiss and kiss and kiss Ianto right outside his door, but Ianto would have to break down and ask Jack in 'for coffee' like some ridiculous film cliche for the Captain to come in.
And Ianto never knew what sort of Jack Harkness date he was in for until Jack turned to him in the Hub in the afternoon and went, "Hey, y'know what would be fun?"
Tonight was a proper date. Super-proper, even -- Jack had scored tickets to a play that was showing in the Millennium Centre. And had turned up on Ianto's doorstep wearing the finest suit the younger man had ever seen him wear. And holding flowers.
Sometimes Ianto suspected he was very much the girl in this relationship. But it still didn't stop him from letting Jack sweep him off his feet anyway.
Ianto lived within walking distance of the Hub and since it was a clear night, they decided to walk. Jack's hand found Ianto's about halfway to the Centre, warm and lovely and Ianto found himself biting back the urge to whistle. Jack, however, seemed fidgety, almost nervous; he kept adjusting his grip on the Welshman's hand, one moment gripping all of Ianto's fingers in his hand, the thumb brushing almost-lovingly over the back of Ianto's hand, and the next he was twining their fingers together, squeezing reassuringly.
"Okay, what are you up to?" Ianto finally asked as they came within sight of the Plass.
A momentary busted look flickered across Jack's face before he feigned ignorance. "Why do you assume I'm up to something?"
"You're twitchy," Ianto replied. "You were twitchy when you asked if I wanted to see a show last week. You were twitchy when I offered to buy the tickets. And now you're starting to get a little look of panic about you the closer we get to the Centre."
Jack let out a sharp laugh. "You would make a good con man, Ianto Jones."
"Thank you," Ianto deadpanned. He stopped and spun Jack around to look at him full-on. "Still doesn't tell me why you're fidgeting like you are."
"I, ah..." Jack trailed off, looking off over his shoulder.
"If you don't want to go to the show, that's fine," Ianto reassured him. "Honestly. I'm not all that fussed. We have the night off, we could go back to my place for the rest of the night and I wouldn't complain," he offered quietly.
Jack, however, was obviously not paying any attention, since he beamed at someone behind Ianto and waved. "Das!"
Ianto raised an eyebrow and turned, catching the movement of someone waving back. It was a couple, a man and a woman, both short and leaning towards the overweight side of the scale. As they approached, Ianto noticed that they were both unusually hairy, although the man was infinitely more interesting. He had a very prominent brow with thick, bushy eyebrows, a wide nose and big lips. And the way he walked made Ianto think he didn't have a waist.
"Jack!" the man called out as they got closer, and Ianto fought back a wince at the very unexpected high pitch in the voice. He sounded like Minnie Mouse, that 'almost out of human range of hearing' high. The woman did not look happy and was hanging back.
Jack let go of Ianto to grasp the man's hand, grinning as the shorter man pumped it furiously. "Das! What are you doing in Cardiff?"
"I could ask you the same," the stranger -- Das -- told him. "Where's the Doctor and Rose?"
Ianto saw the ghost of long-ago pain shine momentarily in his lover's eyes. Although he said he was fine, that he and the Doctor had worked through their problems, Ianto knew that Jack still had scars. "I decided I liked this life of boredom," he said.
The Welshman couldn't stop the snort of amusement those words provoked. Boredom. In Torchwood. Jack had been hit on the head one too many times.
The noise seemed to remind Jack that he was with company, and he turned to Ianto. "Oh! Where are my manners."
"Is that a theoretical question?" Ianto asked, giving a grin that said all was forgiven.
He reached out and took Ianto's hand into one of his. "Ianto, this is an old friend of mine, Das. Das, this is Ianto."
The other man looked at Jack, then over to Ianto and finally down at their joined hands. "Oh, is he your mate, Jack?" he asked in that high voice.
"Am I his what?" Ianto asked, a bit louder than he'd intended.
The woman had drawn up level with them, and she gave Ianto a sweet smile. Ianto groaned inwardly, automatically recognizing the gaze of an older woman with a crush. "He says things like that sometimes," she said, offering a hand. "Anne-Marie Dimitru," she introduced.
"Ianto Jones, ma'am," Ianto replied, shaking her hand. It was a bit awkward since Jack refused to release his right hand so she could shake his hand.
Jack just laughed. "Yes," he said in answer to Das' question. "Actually, we're out celebrating our anniversary."
Ianto knew that he could not be more shocked than he was at those words than if Jack suddenly sprouted tentacles and a second head. He fixed a disbelieving stare onto Jack, stunned silent.
Jack, however, was pulling out a pen and scrawling his mobile number on a random scrap of paper in his pocket. "We have tickets for a show," he said, tilting his head towards the Millennium Centre, "but call me while you're here in town. We'll meet up for lunch or something." He handed the number over before smiling at Ianto. "Right?"
Ianto nodded, looking over at Das and Anne-Marie. "O-of course," he said, giving a smile. "Work permitting, of course."
Jack nearly pulled Ianto away from the Dimitrus, claiming that he wanted to make sure they got to their seats in time. Ianto stumbled after him, the two of them were still holding tight to the other's hand.
"Okay, I'll bite," Ianto finally said. "What was that about?"
"He's a Neanderthal," Jack admitted. "He got stuck here accidentally, and we -- the Doctor, Rose and I -- were unable to bring him back without him dying." He changed the grip on Ianto's hand again, slipping his long fingers between Ianto's. "I stayed with him a month, taught him how to adjust to this time." He looked over and smiled at Ianto. "Did you know that Neanderthals didn't believe in lying? They just thought people were mistaken. Makes you think about what humanity's biggest weapon really is."
Ianto smiled softly. "That's not what I was talking about, Jack."
Jack slowed his steps, looking down at his feet. He looked downright adorable. "Well... today's six months to the day since we first went out properly. Dinner and a movie, remember?"
Ianto smiled. "How could I forget?" The young Welshman been stunned when Jack hadn't invited himself in automatically, but once Ianto had offered that nightcap...
"I just -- isn't this what people in this time do?" Jack asked, looking up at him.
The younger man nodded, still smiling at him.
"I'm a bit rusty on the whole relationship thing," the Captain admitted.
"I'm no expert either," Ianto replied. He stopped and pulled Jack in, giving him an uncharacteristic public snog. "I reckon we can suss it out though," he murmured softly when the Captain pulled back.
Jack's face split into a slow, easy grin, leaning in to steal one more kiss. Ianto opened his mouth underneath Jack's, moaning decadently when the Captain slipped that oh so talented tongue into his mouth.
Jack pulled back after a moment, licking wet, swollen lips. "We should stop that or we won't last through to intermission," he said, grinning. He put an arm around Ianto's waist, hugging him close as they walked towards the entrance.
"Hey Jack?" Ianto asked, leaning his head fondly on the Captain's shoulder for a moment.
"Hmn?"
"Anne-Marie," Ianto said. Jack started laughing as Ianto continued. "What about her?"
"Human, as far as I know," the Captain replied around his chuckles.
"No way!"
Chapter Five: Only Human
Date Written: 11/19/08
Rating: PG-13/T
Word Count: 1,728
Fandom: Torchwood/Doctor Who
Characters/Pairings: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones, Das/Anne-Marie
Spoilers: Season 03 of Doctor Who, Torchwood 02, and for the Ninth Doctor Adventure novel Only Human
Warnings: mentions m/m relationship
Author's Notes: Thanks so very much to my darling betas
totally4ryo and katestamps. I needed a Janto fix from the last chapter.Summaries for the books can be found at Wikipedia, at the Doctor Who wiki, and at Doctorwhoguide.com.
Previous chapters found here.
Date nights with Jack Harkness always did Ianto's head in.
Tosh said (in jest one day, but it stuck in his head) that it was because they had accidentally fallen into dating before Jack had gone off with the Doctor -- and she hadn't been referring to the sex. They had gone out together on occasion, just the two of them. Gwen had, apparently, asked once if she could come along, but Jack had (rather abruptly) tuned her down and whisked out the door before Gwen could argue back. And looking back, Ianto had to admit that their gorgeous tech was rather right.
Sometimes it had been Weevil Hunting, the real-life application of drills to get Ianto up to par in the field. After Lisa, Jack had sworn that Ianto would get out with them more, and then after the cannibals he'd decided that things would run more smoothly if they could have a bit more control over the environment they worked in. When he'd explained this to Ianto, the younger man had been forced to agree that the Captain had been right.
Other times they would go sit in a pub or a cafe and talk. It was a pattern they'd started while Ianto was on his suspension, and they usually had dinner together and talked. Normally, their conversations had no real substance behind their words, just the two of them enjoying being together. Sometimes, though, the two of them would swap stories about battle or things they had seen both on and off the job. It really had been helpful, to be able to discuss things through with Jack and know he wouldn't be judged or pitied for surviving.
Now Jack was back, though, and there were real dates along with the sort of dates. Dates where Jack would show up in nice clothing and hold Ianto's hand as they walked to the restaurant of the night. Dates where Jack would be every inch the polite gentleman and only sit just a little too close to Ianto at dinner. Dates where Ianto had to be the one to break down and initiate the teenage-like make-out session in the back row of the cinema. Dates where Jack would kiss and kiss and kiss Ianto right outside his door, but Ianto would have to break down and ask Jack in 'for coffee' like some ridiculous film cliche for the Captain to come in.
And Ianto never knew what sort of Jack Harkness date he was in for until Jack turned to him in the Hub in the afternoon and went, "Hey, y'know what would be fun?"
Tonight was a proper date. Super-proper, even -- Jack had scored tickets to a play that was showing in the Millennium Centre. And had turned up on Ianto's doorstep wearing the finest suit the younger man had ever seen him wear. And holding flowers.
Sometimes Ianto suspected he was very much the girl in this relationship. But it still didn't stop him from letting Jack sweep him off his feet anyway.
Ianto lived within walking distance of the Hub and since it was a clear night, they decided to walk. Jack's hand found Ianto's about halfway to the Centre, warm and lovely and Ianto found himself biting back the urge to whistle. Jack, however, seemed fidgety, almost nervous; he kept adjusting his grip on the Welshman's hand, one moment gripping all of Ianto's fingers in his hand, the thumb brushing almost-lovingly over the back of Ianto's hand, and the next he was twining their fingers together, squeezing reassuringly.
"Okay, what are you up to?" Ianto finally asked as they came within sight of the Plass.
A momentary busted look flickered across Jack's face before he feigned ignorance. "Why do you assume I'm up to something?"
"You're twitchy," Ianto replied. "You were twitchy when you asked if I wanted to see a show last week. You were twitchy when I offered to buy the tickets. And now you're starting to get a little look of panic about you the closer we get to the Centre."
Jack let out a sharp laugh. "You would make a good con man, Ianto Jones."
"Thank you," Ianto deadpanned. He stopped and spun Jack around to look at him full-on. "Still doesn't tell me why you're fidgeting like you are."
"I, ah..." Jack trailed off, looking off over his shoulder.
"If you don't want to go to the show, that's fine," Ianto reassured him. "Honestly. I'm not all that fussed. We have the night off, we could go back to my place for the rest of the night and I wouldn't complain," he offered quietly.
Jack, however, was obviously not paying any attention, since he beamed at someone behind Ianto and waved. "Das!"
Ianto raised an eyebrow and turned, catching the movement of someone waving back. It was a couple, a man and a woman, both short and leaning towards the overweight side of the scale. As they approached, Ianto noticed that they were both unusually hairy, although the man was infinitely more interesting. He had a very prominent brow with thick, bushy eyebrows, a wide nose and big lips. And the way he walked made Ianto think he didn't have a waist.
"Jack!" the man called out as they got closer, and Ianto fought back a wince at the very unexpected high pitch in the voice. He sounded like Minnie Mouse, that 'almost out of human range of hearing' high. The woman did not look happy and was hanging back.
Jack let go of Ianto to grasp the man's hand, grinning as the shorter man pumped it furiously. "Das! What are you doing in Cardiff?"
"I could ask you the same," the stranger -- Das -- told him. "Where's the Doctor and Rose?"
Ianto saw the ghost of long-ago pain shine momentarily in his lover's eyes. Although he said he was fine, that he and the Doctor had worked through their problems, Ianto knew that Jack still had scars. "I decided I liked this life of boredom," he said.
The Welshman couldn't stop the snort of amusement those words provoked. Boredom. In Torchwood. Jack had been hit on the head one too many times.
The noise seemed to remind Jack that he was with company, and he turned to Ianto. "Oh! Where are my manners."
"Is that a theoretical question?" Ianto asked, giving a grin that said all was forgiven.
He reached out and took Ianto's hand into one of his. "Ianto, this is an old friend of mine, Das. Das, this is Ianto."
The other man looked at Jack, then over to Ianto and finally down at their joined hands. "Oh, is he your mate, Jack?" he asked in that high voice.
"Am I his what?" Ianto asked, a bit louder than he'd intended.
The woman had drawn up level with them, and she gave Ianto a sweet smile. Ianto groaned inwardly, automatically recognizing the gaze of an older woman with a crush. "He says things like that sometimes," she said, offering a hand. "Anne-Marie Dimitru," she introduced.
"Ianto Jones, ma'am," Ianto replied, shaking her hand. It was a bit awkward since Jack refused to release his right hand so she could shake his hand.
Jack just laughed. "Yes," he said in answer to Das' question. "Actually, we're out celebrating our anniversary."
Ianto knew that he could not be more shocked than he was at those words than if Jack suddenly sprouted tentacles and a second head. He fixed a disbelieving stare onto Jack, stunned silent.
Jack, however, was pulling out a pen and scrawling his mobile number on a random scrap of paper in his pocket. "We have tickets for a show," he said, tilting his head towards the Millennium Centre, "but call me while you're here in town. We'll meet up for lunch or something." He handed the number over before smiling at Ianto. "Right?"
Ianto nodded, looking over at Das and Anne-Marie. "O-of course," he said, giving a smile. "Work permitting, of course."
Jack nearly pulled Ianto away from the Dimitrus, claiming that he wanted to make sure they got to their seats in time. Ianto stumbled after him, the two of them were still holding tight to the other's hand.
"Okay, I'll bite," Ianto finally said. "What was that about?"
"He's a Neanderthal," Jack admitted. "He got stuck here accidentally, and we -- the Doctor, Rose and I -- were unable to bring him back without him dying." He changed the grip on Ianto's hand again, slipping his long fingers between Ianto's. "I stayed with him a month, taught him how to adjust to this time." He looked over and smiled at Ianto. "Did you know that Neanderthals didn't believe in lying? They just thought people were mistaken. Makes you think about what humanity's biggest weapon really is."
Ianto smiled softly. "That's not what I was talking about, Jack."
Jack slowed his steps, looking down at his feet. He looked downright adorable. "Well... today's six months to the day since we first went out properly. Dinner and a movie, remember?"
Ianto smiled. "How could I forget?" The young Welshman been stunned when Jack hadn't invited himself in automatically, but once Ianto had offered that nightcap...
"I just -- isn't this what people in this time do?" Jack asked, looking up at him.
The younger man nodded, still smiling at him.
"I'm a bit rusty on the whole relationship thing," the Captain admitted.
"I'm no expert either," Ianto replied. He stopped and pulled Jack in, giving him an uncharacteristic public snog. "I reckon we can suss it out though," he murmured softly when the Captain pulled back.
Jack's face split into a slow, easy grin, leaning in to steal one more kiss. Ianto opened his mouth underneath Jack's, moaning decadently when the Captain slipped that oh so talented tongue into his mouth.
Jack pulled back after a moment, licking wet, swollen lips. "We should stop that or we won't last through to intermission," he said, grinning. He put an arm around Ianto's waist, hugging him close as they walked towards the entrance.
"Hey Jack?" Ianto asked, leaning his head fondly on the Captain's shoulder for a moment.
"Hmn?"
"Anne-Marie," Ianto said. Jack started laughing as Ianto continued. "What about her?"
"Human, as far as I know," the Captain replied around his chuckles.
"No way!"